Actor Hansika Motwani, who has lately been in the news due to her divorce, has now moved a Mumbai sessions court, filing a defamation suit against her estranged sister-in-law. She sought Rs 2 crore in damages from television actor Muskan Nancy James, who accused her and her brother Prashant Motwani of domestic violence. Hansika`s suit also requests a court order to restrain James from making further statements against her and also calls for a public apology.
Hansika Motwani sues sister-in-law for defamation
Hansika filed the suit through advocate Adnan Shaikh, alleging that James made false and damaging claims about Motwani on social media to avoid repaying a loan of Rs 27 lakh. According to the petition, James had reportedly borrowed the amount during her marriage to Motwani’s brother, Prashant Motwani; however, she failed to return the money despite repeated requests.
The Shaka Laka Boom Boom actress also stated that she had limited involvement in her brother’s marriage and was not residing with the couple. She also claimed that the relationship between Prashant and James deteriorated over time, and that she was unaware of the details of their disputes.
In the suit, she described James as a “small-time television actor” who allegedly projected a lavish lifestyle online but refused to settle her dues.
About the domestic violence case
The defamation suit follows an earlier complaint filed by James against her husband and Motwani, wherein she accused them of cruelty and harassment. The FIR filed by James included allegations of domestic violence, interference in her marriage, and demands for expensive gifts during wedding ceremonies. She also claimed that the stress from the marriage led to her developing Bell’s Palsy, a condition causing partial facial paralysis.
Motwani has earlier denied all allegations made in the FIR, arguing that she was not part of any domestic arrangement with the couple and hence cannot be held liable. She had even approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash the FIR, claiming that the accusations were baseless and that they were intended to damage her reputation. The High Court had also issued notice on her plea.
The dispute arose from the troubled marriage between Prashant Motwani and James, who tied the knot in 2020 and have reportedly been living separately since 2022. Motwani has said that divorce discussions between the two had already taken place, and that she has been living separately from her husband following her own marriage in 2022.
The defamation suit is likely to come up for hearing at the Dindoshi sessions court in due course.
