Actor Saif Ali Khan has been booked for assault in an incident that took place in February 2012. The trial will begin on April 30.
Mr. Khan was present at the court today and pleaded not guilty to the charges framed against him.
Mr. Khan allegedly punched NRI businessman Iqbal Sharma in a restaurant at the Taj Hotel in Colaba after Mr. Sharma sent over a note asking the actor’s group to talk softer. Mr. Khan was having dinner with actress Kareena Kapoor, now his wife, her sister Karisma Kapur and their friends Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora, her husband Shakeel Ladak and producer-actor Bilal Amrohi. Mr. Ladak and Mr. Amrohi have also been charged with assault.
Mr. Khan apologized after the incident, saying: “It is our responsibility that we always behave the right way. So in one way, I would like to apologise about what happened and I think even this could have been handled in a different way. I get angry at things any normal person will get angry at. But it should not be displayed in public.”
Mr. Khan also said he acted in self-defence. His lawyer Mohan Jayakar said “Saif was provoked after women at the table were abused. Filthy language was used by Mr. Sharma.”
Mr. Khan was arrested the next day and released on bail after paying Rs. 15,000.
The actor was then just weeks away from releasing Agent Vinod, his first film as producer, co-starring Kareena.
