Saif Ali Khan hotel brawl case: Court warns of issuing non-bailable warrant against witness Malaika Arora

Noting that actor Malaika Arora was ”intentionally” avoiding the legal proceedings by failing to appear as a witness in a 2012 hotel brawl case involving co-star Saif Ali Khan, a court in Mumbai has granted her last chance and warned of issuing a non-bailable warrant.

The court was irked after Arora failed to appear on April 29, days after a bailable warrant was issued against her. Arora, despite having knowledge of the summons issued to her, was ”intentionally” avoiding the court proceedings, the court said. Arora was part of a group of diners that accompanied Khan at a five-star hotel on February 22, 2012, when the alleged incident occurred.

The court had already issued a bailable warrant against the actor and had directed her to appear before it on April 29.However, when Arora skipped the appearance, Chief Judicial Magistrate K S Zanwar on Tuesday noted that an advocate representing Arora was present in court. "Despite the knowledge, she (Arora) is trying to avoid the court proceeding intentionally,” the court said.

While granting the actor a last chance, the court posted the matter for further hearing on July 9 and said if Arora failed to remain present on that day, a non-bailable warrant would be issued. The court had first issued a bailable warrant against Arora on February 15. It was re-issued on April 8 as she didn’t turn up. Saif Ali Khan and two other accused were arrested following a complaint filed by NRI businessman Iqbal Mir Sharma.