Mumbai Court Orders Police Enquiry into Social Media Influencer’s Molestation Complaint Against Cricketer Prithvi Shaw

A Mumbai court has directed the police to investigate a complaint of molestation made by social media influencer Sapna Gill against cricketer Prithvi Shaw in 2023. The Metropolitan Magistrate S C Tayde instructed the police to provide a report on the investigation by June 19.

However, the court dismissed Gill’s plea to take action against the police for not filing a First Information Report against Shaw and others based on her complaint. Shaw denied the allegations.

Gill alleged that Shaw molested her at a pub in Andheri, a suburban area. In February 2023, Gill was arrested with others after an incident involving an attack on Shaw at a hotel, following a dispute about taking selfies. She is currently out on bail.

After her release on bail, Gill filed a complaint with the Airport police station in Andheri against Shaw, his friend Ashish Yadav, and others, accusing them of molestation and outraging her modesty. When police did not register a case, she approached the magistrate court.

Gill’s complaint, represented by advocate Ali Kaashif Khan Desh, sought the registration of an FIR under IPC sections 354 (molestation), 509 (insulting a woman’s modesty), and 324 (causing hurt with dangerous weapons) against Shaw and Yadav for allegedly assaulting her with a bat.

The police informed the court that Gill’s claim of being molested by Shaw in the pub was false. They stated that CCTV footage showed Gill and her friend intoxicated and dancing. An investigation revealed that Shaw prevented Thakur, Gill’s friend, from recording videos on his phone. Police found no evidence of molestation in the footage or witness statements.