Who would’ve thought veteran Bollywood actor Govinda would have to apologise for a slap seven years down the line?
Back in 2008, an Indian man named Santosh Ray got slapped by Govinda while he was watching the shoot of his film Money Hai Toh Honey Hai.
Santosh claimed that the actor took this action ”without any provocation”.
“I was just watching the shooting of a movie as I was his fan. But the incident left me shocked and I lost all respect for him,” The Hindustan Times reported him as saying.
Following this incident, he had sought criminal proceedings against the actor under sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 and 353 (using criminal force to cause grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code.
During a hearing on Monday, The Supreme Court watched video recordings and asked Govinda to apologise to Santosh or he would have to face prosecution for criminal intimidation and assault, and could be jailed for two years.
The orders came after Santosh’s counsel told the court that he will be satisfied with an apology. “You need not express regret here. It is a matter between you and the complainant. Your expression of regret here will not solve the matter here… It need not be made here,” he said.
Govinda’s counsel offered an apology along with monetary compensation, but the court told him it was totally up to Santosh to accept or reject it.
“You don’t have to apologise to the court. If he is unwilling to accept the apology then Govinda may have to face prosecution,” the court said while ruling out monetary compensation.
“We enjoy your films, but cannot tolerate you slapping somebody. You don’t need to do in real life what you do in reel life,” the court said, reports NDTV.
“You are a big hero, show your big heart,” the court added.
Govinda also expressed his views for the Supreme Court’s order at a press conference in Mumbai yesterday. “I have the highest respect and regards for Supreme Court and the decision given,” The Indian Express quoted him as saying.
He further questioned the credibility of Santosh, who claims to be his fan, by suspecting his source of funding to run the case for seven years as the actor has never faced a similar trial over 30 years of his career.
He also failed to understand the motive behind his presence on the sets back in 2008. “If you are saying he is a fan, then show me proof of him being a fan,” asked Govinda.
The actor refused to comment on his next step saying, “These are technical questions I can answer only after reading the detailed copy of the order.”
The next date of hearing of Santosh’s appeal is February 9.
