The Kerala High Court on Thursday stated that it is inclined to quash the criminal proceedings brought against actress Sunny Leone, her husband Daniel Weber, and an employee of Leone in a case of cheating registered against them.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas remarked that there seemed to be no criminal offence made out against Leone and that she was being harassed unnecessarily.
“What constitutes a criminal offence here? You are unnecessarily harassing the person (Sunny Leone). I’m inclined to quash this,” the Court remarked.
The case was eventually scheduled for March 31 after the Court stated that the investigation could continue.
The criminal proceedings against three of them were stayed by the Court on November 16, 2022.
Leone, her husband, and her employee have been charged in a crime based on a complaint filed by a Kerala-based event manager.
The complainant claimed that despite paying Leone lakhs of rupees to appear and perform at events, she failed to appear.
Following that, a case was filed against them, alleging commission of offences punishable under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating and dishonesty inducing delivery of property), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
The trio then moved the High Court, claiming they are innocent and that even if the allegations are taken at face value, the alleged offences would not be attracted.
The complainant has not suffered any losses as a result of the petitioners, but the case is negatively impacting the petitioners’ lives, the plea stated.
The plea also stated that the complainant had also moved a civil suit with the same allegations in July 2022, which was dismissed by a Magistrate Court for lack of evidence.
As a result, they moved the High Court seeking quashing of proceedings against them.
