Actor Hansika Motwani has hit a legal setback after the Bombay High Court dismissed her petition seeking to quash an FIR lodged against her by her former sister-in-law, actor Muskan Nancy James. The order clears the way for a trial to move forward against the actor and her mother, Jyoti Motwani (popularly known as Mona).
The case stems from a complaint Nancy filed in December 2023, accusing Hansika and Jyoti of harassment and domestic violence. She alleged that their actions not only caused her mental trauma but also led to her developing Bell’s palsy. The FIR cites multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 498A (cruelty related to dowry), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 352 (criminal intimidation and insult to provoke breach of peace).
Nancy and Hansika’s brother, Prashant Motwani, tied the knot in a lavish wedding in March 2021. However, the marriage soon turned turbulent, and by the following year, the couple began living separately. Nancy has claimed that Hansika and Jyoti’s interference strained her relationship with Prashant. She also alleged that her in-laws demanded expensive gifts and money and pressured her into selling her flat.
Hansika and her mother had obtained anticipatory bail in February from the Mumbai Sessions Court. By April, they approached the Bombay High Court to have the FIR struck off. Hansika, in her petition, said she was “shocked” to find herself named in the complaint. The court, however, rejected their plea on Tuesday, allowing the proceedings to continue.
Even as the case unfolds, Hansika has also been facing speculation about her personal life. Reports suggest that her marriage to Sohael Khaturiya has hit troubled waters, with the two allegedly living apart just two years after tying the knot. Their relationship had earlier drawn public attention since Sohael was previously married to Rinky Bajaj—who was said to be Hansika’s close friend. Hansika and Sohael later clarified that they had known each other for years, as Sohael had been a long-time friend of her brother.