Bollywood star Govinda, who had allegedly slapped a fan in 2008, while obeying the Supreme Court's order has offered an unconditional apology and Rs 5 lakh compensation to the victim
An apology that was eight years in the waiting has finally arrived. Bollywood star Govinda, who had allegedly slapped a fan in 2008, while obeying the Supreme Court's order offered an unconditional apology and Rs. 5 lakh compensation to the victim on Tuesday.
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The apex court has asked the actor to meet the victim, Santosh Bateshwar Ray, in person and apologise within two weeks.
Govinda. File Pic
Rai had told a news agency that he wasn't happy with the compensation offered, and insisted that he would first meet the actor and decide on his future course of action.
"Today in the court his lawyer offered me Rs. five lakh and said that he (Govinda) would apologise. He has not personally apologised, but his lawyer and secretary did. The court has asked him to meet me in person and settle the matter within two weeks," he said.
"They had offered me five lakh rupees even earlier, but it has been eight years and I have spent over Rs. 10 lakhs on the case," he added.
When asked if he was satisfied with the compensation, he said, "No, agreeing to it is out of question."
The Supreme Court had in November last year asked Govinda to apologise to Rai.
Rai, had earlier moved the apex court alleging that the actor had humiliated him in public.
Govinda had slapped Ray at Filmistan Studio in 2008 for allegedly misbehaving on the sets of 'Money Hai Toh Honey Hai'.
Ray had on February 2, 2009, filed the complaint under sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (1) (Criminal intimidation) of the IPC. The complaint was filed after the actor allegedly slapped Ray, a visitor to his film sets, on January 16, 2008.
Govinda had approached the High Court seeking quashing of the proceedings initiated against him by the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.
The Bombay High Court had quashed Ray's complaint against Govinda, saying there was no material against the actor to show criminal intimidation. But ray had then filed and appeal against the decision in the SC.
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