Saif charged in 2012 assault case

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was on Thursday charged for assaulting South African businessman Iqbal Sharma at Mumbai’s Taj Hotel in February 2012, reports said.
According to reports, Khan has been charged under Section 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The hearing in the case against the actor will begin from April 30, reports added.
Khan was arrested for allegedly punching the NRI businessman and his relative at Wasabi — a Japanese restaurant in the Taj Mahal hotel — on Feb. 22, 2012. He was immediately bailed out.
The actor and two friends were booked for allegedly assaulting Sharma after the latter told the actor’s gang to keep the noise level down. Khan was dining with 10 friends, including Kareena Kapoor and actress Amrita Arora.
Sharma — a trade official with the South African government — had told the police Khan’s table was very noisy and when he objected, the actor suggested he go to a library if he wanted silence.
When Sharma finally decided to change tables himself but when he was moving, Khan threatened him.
According to Sharma, the actor used abusive language and when the argument furthered and punched him on his nose.
Sharma had also said when father-in-law tried to intervene, he was punched as well.