In a major legal development, the Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Rs 100 crore defamation suit against his estranged wife Anjana Pandey and his brother Shamasuddin Siddiqui.
The court struck down the case after Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his advocate failed to appear for multiple hearings, leading to the dismissal for non-prosecution.
Because of the sizeable claim amount and the public nature of the family dispute, the suit had previously made headlines. Nawazuddin Siddiqui had claimed that his reputation and career had suffered greatly as a result of his brother's and ex-wife's false and defamatory remarks.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui Claimed “Loss of Reputation and Mental Distress”
According to court documents, Nawazuddin Siddiqui claimed that the controversy sparked by his family members’ statements and social media posts led to “significant financial and reputational damage.”
The Gangs of Wasseypur actor alleged that defamatory content shared by Anjana Pandey and Shamasuddin Siddiqui cost him more than Rs 100 crore in losses.
The actor reportedly stated that the fallout affected the release of several of his upcoming films. He also claimed that the scandal made "himself feels very shy to come to social gatherings and come before the public at large."
In his petition, Nawazuddin Siddiqui accused his brother and former wife of “harassment and blackmail using cheap videos and comments on social media,” claiming these were intended to extort money and harm his image.
Family and Financial Dispute Turns Legal
The actor’s legal filings detailed that he had trusted his brother Shamasuddin Siddiqui with financial and managerial responsibilities since 2008 — including bank accounts, credit cards, and property investments. Nawazuddin Siddiqui alleged that his brother later acted dishonestly, purchasing several properties and luxury vehicles using his funds.
These reportedly included flats and commercial spaces in Mumbai, land in Buldhana, a farmhouse in Shahpur, and even a property in Dubai.
The actor also accused his ex-wife of misusing funds “allegedly given to start a production house” for personal purposes. His plea sought a permanent injunction preventing both from making further defamatory statements and demanded a written public apology.
Brother’s Lawyer Calls Case “Baseless”
Countering the claims, advocates Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh, Snigdha Khandelwal, and Farid Shaikh, representing Shamasuddin Siddiqui, told the court, “The whole case filed by Nawazuddin was baseless having no justified claims; it was only filed to pressure my client against their financial disputes.”
With repeated absences from Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s side, the High Court bench dismissed the case for non-prosecution, effectively closing this chapter of a long and public family feud.
FAQs
Q1. Why was Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Rs 100 crore defamation suit dismissed?
The Bombay High Court dismissed the case due to non-prosecution after Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his advocate repeatedly failed to appear in court.
Q2. Who were the respondents in Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s defamation case?
The suit was filed against his former wife, Anjana Pandey, and his brother, Shamasuddin Siddiqui.
Q3. What did Nawazuddin Siddiqui claim in his defamation suit?
He alleged that false and defamatory statements made by his brother and ex-wife caused him reputational and financial damage worth over Rs 100 crore.
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