Prithvi Shaw fined by Mumbai court in molestation case filed by Sapna Gill; gets 'one more chance'

A Mumbai sessions court on Tuesday imposed a Rs 100 token cost fine on cricketer Prithvi Shaw for failing to submit his reply in a molestation case filed by social media influencer Sapna Gill. The court granted Shaw one more opportunity to respond to Gill's criminal revision petition, which challenges a magistrate court's earlier decision to not register an FIR against the cricketer.The sessions court had previously issued multiple requests for Shaw to respond to Gill's petition. Despite a final warning during the last hearing, Shaw did not file his reply by Tuesday's hearing."Still, one more chance is granted for a cost of Rs 100," the judge stated before scheduling the next hearing for December 16.Gill's attorney, Advocate Ali Kaashif Khan, expressed concerns about Shaw's conduct in court, stating: "This has been his regular way of handling the case despite being summoned many times."The case originates from an incident at an Andheri pub in Mumbai on February 15, 2023. Police reports indicate that Gill's friend, Shobit Thakur, repeatedly requested selfies with Shaw around 1 am, leading to an argument after Shaw declined further photo requests.The situation escalated when Shaw was leaving the venue with his friend Ashish Surendra Yadav. According to police accounts, Thakur was allegedly attacked with a baseball bat, while Shaw escaped unharmed. A group of six individuals, including Thakur and Gill, allegedly chased Yadav and demanded Rs 50,000.Police subsequently registered a case against the group, leading to Gill's detention on February 17, 2023. She was released on bail three days later.Gill's version of events differs significantly from the police account. She alleges that Shaw and Yadav had invited her and Thakur to join them at their VIP table for drinks. According to her complaint, when Thakur requested selfies, Shaw and Yadav assaulted him.Gill claims that when she attempted to intervene, Shaw physically and sexually assaulted her. She filed a counter-complaint against the cricketer, accusing him of assault, molestation, and outraging her modesty.The magistrate court initially declined to register an FIR based on Gill's complaint, instead ordering a police inquiry into the matter. Dissatisfied with this decision, Gill approached the sessions court with a criminal revision petition in April 2024.The case remains ongoing, with Shaw now required to pay the token fine and submit his response before the next hearing scheduled for December 16.