Zareen Khan Wins Legal Battle, Kolkata Magistrate Cancels Warrant

Zareen Khan has been absolved of an arrest warrant issued against her by a Kolkata court. The warrant was issued due to an alleged cheating case dating back to 2018. The warrant had been initiated due to what has now been revealed as “fraudulent and misleading statements” made by the Investigating Officer. However, upon uncovering the “true and correct facts” of the matter, the Magistrate swiftly issued a detailed Order, promptly cancelling and recalling the warrant that had been issued against Zareen Khan.

Notably, the Hon’ble High Court of Kolkata has also weighed in on the matter by passing an interim order that supports Zareen Khan's position. This puts a resolute end to the misdirected warrant and upholds justice. The actress continues to be a prominent figure in the world of Bollywood, and this verdict only adds to her determination and commitment to her craft.

Zareen Khan through her advocate, Rizwan Siddiquee, sent a press note which clarified the entire matter. Have a look:

IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION FOR AND ON BEHALF OF MY CLIENT, MS. ZAREEN KHAN

This is in addition to my press note dated 17th of September 2023, in which regard, I, for and on behalf of my client Ms. Zareen Khan, would like to place on record as under:

1) That foremost I, for and on behalf of my client would like to inform the general public at large, that the Ld. Magistrate had issued a “Warrant” against my client, only because of the “fraudulent and misleading statements” which were made by the Investigating Officer Mr. Dilip Yadav to the said Ld. Magistrate, because of obvious reasons.

2) That on learning the “true and correct facts” of the matter the Ld. Magistrate, has accordingly passed a detailed Order, forthwith cancelling/recalling the Warrant issued against my client.

3) I once again repeat that even the Hon’ble High Court of Kolkata, has passed an Order favouring my client in the same matter.

4) Now, in light of the above facts, as my client had to suffer because of the willful acts of the Investigation Officer, therefore I have no other option but to initiate prosecution against the said Police Officer under Sections 166 and 166A(b) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 which provides “RIGOROUS IMPRISONMENT” for such police officers (public servants) who knowingly disobey direction of law. The said sections are herein reproduced as under:-

Section 166 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860

166. Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person.— Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant, intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will by such disobedience, cause injury to any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

Section 166 A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860

166A. Public servant disobeying direction under law.—Whoever, being a public servant,— (a) knowingly disobeys any direction of the law which prohibits him from requiring the attendance at any place of any person for the purpose of investigation into an offence or any other matter, or (b) knowingly disobeys, to the prejudice of any person, any other direction of the law regulating the manner in which he shall conduct such investigation, or (c) fails to record any information given to him under sub-section (1) of section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), in relation to cognizable offence punishable under section 326A, section 326B, section 354, section 354B, section 370, section 370A, section 376, section 376A, 2 [section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB], section 376E or section 509, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two years, and shall also be liable to fine.

5) Let the erring police officer also learn from this Public Notice that he does not have any immunity from prosecution, immaterial of the fact that he is a police officer.

- Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee