In the 2012 assault case involving actor Saif Ali Khan, Bollywood star Amrita Arora Ladak testified in court on Saturday. Khan was charged with assaulting NRI businessman Iqbal Sharma and his father-in-law, Raman Patel, during a purported fight at a five-star hotel.
Witness account of the incident
Arora said the court that the hotel had given them a private enclosure. Arora was a member of the dinner group that included Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Malaika Arora, and other pals. Sharma allegedly came in and started yelling at them while they were eating.
“We witnessed someone storming into our enclosure, yelling at us to be quiet in a loud, combative voice. We were all taken aback. Saif got up right away and apologized,” Arora remarked.
She also stated in her testimony that after initially leaving, Sharma came back and confronted Khan violently. Saif’s voice was among the loud sounds we heard as he walked to the restroom. Shortly after, Sharma returned and struck him,” she continued, adding that the group stepped in to keep them apart.
Police version and charges
Police said that the confrontation started because Sharma had complained about the actor and his friends’ noisy conversation. Sharma said that Khan and his associates had attacked his father-in-law and that Khan had punched him, breaking his nose.
However, Saif has stated that Sharma used derogatory words against the group’s female members to start the altercation.
Section 325 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with willfully causing great harm, is the charge sheet that Saif Ali Khan and his two pals, Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi, have been charged with. The matter is still being heard in court.