Vijay Raaz acquitted in 2020 sexual harassment case due to lack of evidence, actor’s lawyer says he lost work after allegations

Bollywood actor Vijay Raaz was acquitted on Thursday by a Maharashtra court in a sexual harassment case filed against him in 2020 by a female crew member during the shoot of Vidya Balan-starrer Sherni. The Gondia court held that the prosecution had "failed to present sufficient evidence" to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.Court cites lack of evidence and lapses in investigationAs per PTI, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Mahendra Sorte dropped the charges under Sections 354-A (sexual harassment) and 354-D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code, citing serious lapses in the investigation.The complaint had been filed at the Ramnagar police station in Gondia, alleging that Raaz harassed the woman between the night of October 25 and morning of October 29, 2020, at a hotel where the film’s cast and crew were lodged. The actor was arrested on November 4, 2020, in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, and was granted bail the same day.According to the court order, the investigating officer did not visit the alleged crime scene nor did they record the statements of hotel staff members named by the complainant. “The evidence presented by the prosecution appears weak and insufficient,” the judge observed. Even the CCTV footage submitted by the prosecution “did not clearly show the accused committing the alleged act.”The court noted that “the oral evidence presented by the prosecution was not sufficient to convict the accused,” and therefore, Raaz was acquitted. The benefit of doubt, as per criminal law, went to the accused.Raaz arrested, granted bail the same dayRaaz’s lawyer Saveena Bedi Sachar welcomed the verdict, stating, “He was shooting near Nagpur for Sherni when the case came up. Not only did he have to leave the shoot midway, but he also lost work thereafter.” She further added, “Now that the court has declared him innocent, this should be an eye-opener for those who treat every accused as guilty from the moment allegations are made.”Raaz, known for his acclaimed performances in films like Stree, Delhi Belly, Run, and Dedh Ishqiya, had kept a low profile following the controversy.