Mumbai court rejects dowry harassment pleas against Nawazuddin Siddiqui

A court here has dismissed two cases filed against Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui by his "former" wife Zainab, seeking directions to the police to register cases against him for alleged dowry harassment.

According to the actor's lawyers, Zainab filed several complaints against Siddiqui, who falsely claimed to be his wife. "The two cases filed in the magistrate's court were dismissed (on February 21) after we filed the divorce papers of the couple," the actor's lawyers Adnan Shaikh and Drishti Khurana said.

The cases were filed against the 48-year-old actor based on marriage documents. Legitimate divorce documents were withheld from the court, lawyers said. In petitions filed in the Magistrate's Court, Zainab sought to direct the Versova police station in suburban Mumbai to register an FIR (First Information Report) against the actor and his mother under IPC sections 498A (dowry harassment), 509 (to provide protection to a woman) and others related provisions.

Last month, the Versova police charged Zainab with alleged trespass and voluntary bodily harm based on a complaint by the actor's mother, Mehrunisa Siddiqui. She claimed that Zainab broke into her house and assaulted her after an argument.