A magistrate’s court on Thursday referred a 2012 brawl case against actor Saif Ali Khan for mediation.
The actor, who allegedly broke the nose of an NRI businessman at a five-star restaurant, appeared before the Esplanade court. However, two other accused persons and the complainant Iqbal Mir Sharma were absent.
The proposed mediation is expected to be worked out on July 27, when Saif, his friends Bilal Amrohi and Shakeel Ladakh, who are the co-accused in the case, and Mr. Sharma would deliberate the possibility of mutually withdrawing the case.
According to the charges framed in March 2014, Saif and others were charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt and common intention under section 325 and 34 respectively of the Indian Penal Code.
“There was some feeling between the parties that the matter should go for mediation. Under the law, and it can be sent under the law, 325 can be compounded [mediation allowed with court’s permission]. The parties will be asked if they want to settle the matter or take it further. Both parties will be making applications for mediation,” Saif’s lawyer Girish Kulkarni told The Hindu .
Mr. Sharma registered a complaint against the actor on February 22, 2012 at the Colaba police station. He had said that he had been punched on the nose by Saif at the Wasabi restaurant at the Taj Mahal hotel. Mr. Sharma had complained to the hotel manager of too much noise from Saif’s table, where the actor was dining with his wife, Kareena Kapoor, sister-in-law Karisma Kapoor and some friends.
