Bengaluru: Indian cricketer Amit Mishra was arrested by the Ashoknagar police and later released on bail on Tuesday. During the police questioning in connection with the case filed against him by Bollywood producer Vandana Jain. Mishra has reportedly denied assaulting her.
Following a complaint by Vandana on September 27, the police had issued Mishra a notice to appear before them for questioning. On Tuesday around 10.30 am, the cricketer turned up at the Cubbon Park Police Station, where DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil and Ashoknagar inspector Vijay Hadagali quizzed him for nearly three hours about the incident.
Mishra has reportedly told the police that his friend Raghvin had introduced him to Vandana about three years ago and they became friends. “There was an argument as she entered my hotel room without my permission. During this, she started abusing me and also tried to assault me. In defence I held her hand and twisted it. There is no truth in her allegation that I assaulted her,” an official said quoting Mishra.
Mishra is also said to have told the police that he has already apologised to Ms Jain for the incident. “As per the BCCI norms, we are not supposed to meet any other person, besides immediate family members, during matches or training camps. Keeping my career in mind, I had refused to meet her. But on September 25 evening, she gained access to my room when I had gone out. I was shocked to see her in my room and shouted at her, asking her leave immediately. She did not pay heed and started an argument. Even I had to shout back at her,” Mishra reportedly told the interrogators.
“As the news was published in newspapers and news channels, my friends and colleagues advised me to apologise to her and I did it. There is no truth in her statement that I hit her with a tea kettle. In fact, before I entered the room, it had fallen and had been broken,” he reportedly claimed.
After the interrogation, the police took Mishra to the hotel where the alleged incident took place and gathered information from him. The police also questioned some of the hotel staff who were present during the incident and recorded their statements. Later, Mishra was taken to Ashoknagar police station, where the bail formalities were completed. He left the Police Station by 2.30 pm.
Sections changed
DCP Sandeep Patil said that when the FIR was file, the case was registered under Section 323 of IPC, which amounts to simple injury. “But the medical reports later stated that the victim has sustained grave injury. So, the section was changed from 323 to 325 (causing grievous hurt) of the IPC.
Under section 323 of the IPC, the person, if found guilty, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to Rs 1,000, or with both. While under section 325, the culprit shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine. Mishra is also booked under section 354A (sexual harassment) of the IPC.
