MP High Court Quashes Sham FIR Against Jodhaa Akbar Editor

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed criminal charges against Bollywood film editor Dilip Deo, labeling the FIR filed against him as a fraudulent attempt to extort money, according to court documents cited by The Indian Express. Deo, recognized for his work on films like Jodhaa Akbar and Wanted, was arrested in 2016 by Ujjain police following allegations of criminal intimidation and fraud tied to a failed film promotion deal. The arrest sparked controversy, as Deo was allegedly tricked into traveling to Madhya Pradesh under the pretense of a film editing contract, only to be detained in a private vehicle without Mumbai Police being informed.

Court records reveal that Mumbai Police claimed Deo was taken to his Goregaon West residence, where his wife was coerced into signing a Rs 10 lakh cheque under pressure from the Madhya Pradesh Police. Justice Abhyankar, presiding over the case, ruled the FIR baseless, noting it invoked Section 66A of the IT Act, which the Supreme Court struck down in 2015 in Shreya Singhal v Union of India. The judge also found that Section 507 of the IPC was inapplicable, as the alleged calls were not anonymous. The court highlighted the absence of any mention of money paid by the complainant in the FIR or final report.

Deo maintained that the case stemmed from a civil dispute, asserting that both Mumbai and Ujjain police had cleared him. He cited a 2017 Human Rights Commission order directing the police to pay his wife Rs 25,000 for harassment, which was complied with. Deo claimed the false case severely damaged his career, causing financial hardship as industry contacts distanced themselves. The court’s ruling brings relief to Deo, vindicating his claim of being unfairly targeted by a malicious legal action.