Hansika Motwani to face trial in cruelty case filed by sister-in-law - Key developments

New Delhi: Actress Hansika Motwani found herself in legal trouble after the Bombay High Court dismissed her petition to quash an FIR filed by her estranged sister-in-law, actress Muskan Nancy James. On December 18, 2024, Nancy filed an FIR at the Amboli Police Station, Mumbai, against Hansika, her mother Jyoti and her husband Prashant Motwani, accusing them of domestic violence, cruelty, and harassment during her marriage.

Based on Nancy’s complaint, the police registered an FIR under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 498A for cruelty by relatives of the husband, 323 for voluntarily causing hurt, 504 for intentional insult, 506 for criminal intimidation and section 34 for acts done with common intentions.

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A source told Hindustan Times, “Nancy and Prashant Motwani, Hansika’s brother, had a lavish wedding ceremony in March 2021. However, their marriage was strained from the start. A year later, the two started living separately.”

In her complaint, Nancy also alleged domestic violence that caused her Bell’s palsy. She also accused the Motwani family of demanding expensive gifts and money. She also alleged that undue interference from Hansika and Jyoti during her marriage to Prashant led to marital discord.

In February 2025, Hansika and Jyoti had secured anticipatory bail from the Mumbai Sessions Court and later approached the Bombay High Court to quash the FIR. Meanwhile, Hansika’s lawyer claimed that the actress asked Muskan to repay the Rs 27 lakh she had lent to her and her husband, Prashant, for their wedding. The advocate also dismissed the allegations of physical assault and verbal abuse by stating that it lacked evidence.

The lawyer further added, The FIR appears to be a retaliatory measure aimed at pressuring Motwani and her family into a financial settlement in the ongoing matrimonial dispute.” 

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Earlier, there were reports of trouble in Hansika’s marriage with her husband, Sohael Khaturiya. Reportedly, they have been living separately for just two years after their wedding. However, both Hansika and Sohael denied the reports.