A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Saini S Johray, the production designer of Dhurandhar, following a sexual harassment complaint by a woman.
The FIR has been registered at the Sector-17 station by Chandigarh police.
As per a report in India Today, the complaint stated that Saini allegedly summoned the woman to a room at Chandigarh’s Taj Hotel where he sexually harassed, physically assaulted and wrongfully confined her. The woman further alleged that an intoxicating substance had been mixed into her drink, causing her condition to deteriorate.
Police records stated that the woman, a resident of New Delhi, submitted a written complaint at the Sector-17 police station on April 20. Following a preliminary inquiry, the police registered a case under Sections 74, 79, 123 and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Johray has been identified as a resident of Oberoi Springs in Andheri West, Mumbai.
In her complaint, the woman stated that she was studying at a government college when a faculty member forwarded her resume to the Dhurandhar team. She was then hired as an assistant art director on the film on September 2, 2025.
The complainant alleged that Saini introduced himself as her mentor and claimed to be an alumnus of the Delhi College of Art, which helped her develop trust in him.
According to the complaint, within days of joining the project, Saini invited her to a room at the Taj Hotel in Sector 17, claiming it was for a professional discussion. She initially believed it would be a team meeting, but later discovered that no other members of the crew had been invited.
The woman further alleged that Saini repeatedly instructed her not to inform anyone about the meeting at the hotel, allegedly warning that it could damage her professional reputation.
The complainant stated that she arrived at the hotel room at around 8.30 pm on September 10, 2025. She alleged that Saini pressured her into consuming alcohol and prepared a drink containing a mixture of wine and rum, insisting that she finish it in one go despite her reluctance.
According to her statement, she began experiencing severe dizziness within minutes of consuming the drink. Although she repeatedly expressed her desire to leave, she alleged that Saini prevented her from doing so.
The woman also alleged that Saini engaged in inappropriate physical contact while offering to teach her bachata dance. She claimed he forcibly pulled her close and made unwelcome advances.
She stated that her condition deteriorated rapidly and that she vomited multiple times over the next 20 to 30 minutes. Despite repeatedly asking to return home, she alleged that she was not allowed to leave the room.
The complainant also stated that while she was vomiting in the bathroom, Saini entered and continued to touch her inappropriately. She also claimed that he later forced her onto a bed and pressured her to stay in the hotel room overnight.
According to the complainant, she was physically weak, frightened and unable to resist. She alleged that she remained under severe mental distress throughout the night and left the hotel only the following morning, returning home via a bike taxi.
The woman has also accused Saini of continuing to harass her afterwards by filing complaints against her, which she claimed caused further mental distress.
Police investigation into the matter remains ongoing. The allegations outlined in the complaint represent the complainant’s version of events, and the accused has obtained bail while the legal proceedings continue.
Saini was recently credited for designing a large-scale replica of Pakistan’s Lyari Town in Thailand for Dhurandhar.
