Director gets bail in rape case, court says another matter of false complaint
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to film director Sanoj Mishra, who made headlines after offering a role to viral Mahakumbh Mela girl Monalisa, in connection with a rape case. In its order, the High Court said it was another case of a false complaint related to sexual harassment.The complainant, a 28-year-old woman, alleged that she met Mishra through social media platforms TikTok and Instagram in 2020 while living in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi. The accused allegedly coerced her into meeting him by threatening suicide. On June 18, 2021, he took her to a resort, drugged her and sexually assaulted her.advertisementThe Delhi High Court granted bail to the 45-year-old film director after the woman, in her affidavit, said she was living in a consensual live-in relationship with him. The woman had claimed she filed a complaint against Mishra under the influence of some of his rivals.
In its order, the High Court said that such false complaints related to sexual harassment should be dealt with force and strictness.The court also said that every false complaint of sexual crimes not only caused great harm to the person accused in the case, but also created a sense of distrust along with condemnation in entire society.Due to this, even complaints of rape victims/survivors were doubted to be false, the court further said, adding that such moves shook people's trust in the judicial process.WHAT THE WOMAN HAD ALLEGED?advertisementThe woman had claimed that Mishra took objectionable photos and videos of her, using them to blackmail her into a relationship. He allegedly lured her with promises of marriage and film opportunities, forcing her into a live-in relationship in Mumbai. During this time, he allegedly assaulted her on multiple occasions and forced her to undergo three abortions.In February 2025, the film director allegedly abandoned her and threatened to leak her private pictures and videos if she filed a complaint against him.Mishra is married and resides with his family in Mumbai.
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