Actor Rajkummar Rao surrendered before the JMIC (Judicial Magistrate Ist Class) court of Judge Srijan Shukla in Jalandhar on Monday, July 28, in connection with a case related to hurting religious sentiments with the controversial poster during the promotion of his 2017 film Behen Hogi Teri. An arrest warrant had earlier been issued against Rao for failing to appear before the court.

In another hearing on July 30, Rao’s lawyer, advocate Darshan Singh Dayal, argued that his client had joined the investigation once he was granted relief from the court. The police had completed the probe and filed a chargesheet. However, the summons sent by the court was addressed to an old residence in Prem Nagar, Gurgaon, where Rao no longer lives.

The defense informed the court that Rao currently resides at Oberoi Springs in Andheri West, Mumbai, and did not receive the court summons. Once he became aware of the matter, he promptly surrendered before the court. Accepting the explanation, the court granted bail to Rajkummar Rao.

According to ANI, advocate Darshan Dayal said, “The FIR was registered under Section 295A (act done with the intention of inciting religious sentiments), Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and Section 67 of the IT Act, due to which non-bailable warrants were also issued against the actor.”

The advocate further added that Shruti Haasan was acquitted after the court found her not guilty. Meanwhile, the film’s director, Ajay K Pannalal, appeared before the court today, and his petition has also been filed.
The petition further stated that the actor was simply portraying a character in the film, where his role involved playing Lord Shiva as part of a Jagran troupe. It emphasised that the poster was purely an artistic expression, with no intention to offend or hurt the religious sentiments of any community.

Meanwhile, the actor is expecting his first child with his wife Patralekhaa. The couple had announced the pregnancy in July.

(With inputs from Davinder Kumar)

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