The Bombay High Court has refused to quash the First Information Report (FIR) filed against social media influencer Sapna Gill. The case stems from an altercation with cricketer Prithvi Shaw over a selfie request at a Mumbai nightclub in February 2023.
Incident Overview
On February 15, 2023, Prithvi Shaw and his friend Ashish Yadav were dining at the Barrel Mansion Club in Vile Parle East, Mumbai. Sapna Gill and her friend, Shobhit Thakur, approached Shaw for selfies. While Shaw initially obliged, he later declined further requests, leading to a confrontation. The club’s management intervened, escorting Thakur out of the premises.
The situation escalated when Thakur, allegedly accompanied by Gill and others, confronted Shaw and Yadav outside the club. Thakur reportedly attacked Shaw’s car with a baseball bat. Following the incident, Yadav filed a complaint at the Oshiwara Police Station, leading to the arrest of Gill and her associates on charges including rioting, extortion, and criminal intimidation.
Sapna Gill’s Counterclaims
Post her arrest, Sapna Gill presented a different narrative. She claimed that Shaw and Yadav had invited her and Thakur to their VIP table, where an altercation ensued after Thakur’s selfie request. Gill alleged that Shaw physically and sexually assaulted her during the dispute. She subsequently filed a counter-complaint against Shaw and Yadav, accusing them of assault and molestation.
Legal Proceedings
Seeking relief, Gill approached the Bombay High Court to quash the FIR against her. Her petition argued that the allegations were baseless and that the police investigation was biased. Advocate Ali Kaashif Khan, representing Gill, highlighted discrepancies in the police’s handling of the case, including the alleged failure to secure CCTV footage from the club’s interior, which could provide crucial evidence.
On April 13, 2023, the High Court issued notices to Prithvi Shaw, the Mumbai Police, and other respondents based on Gill’s petition. However, during a subsequent hearing, the court expressed reluctance to quash the FIR. The bench noted that the FIR contained sufficient material to proceed and suggested that Gill seek discharge from the trial court once the chargesheet is filed.
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Current Status
As of now, the case remains under investigation. The High Court has directed the additional public prosecutor to present the chargesheet for review. The next hearing is scheduled for April 3, 2025. Both parties await further legal proceedings to resolve the matter.
