Actor Hansika Motwani has approached a Mumbai sessions court, filing a civil defamation suit against her estranged sister-in-law Muskan Nancy James.
In her plea, Motwani has sought damages of Rs 2 crore and requested the court to restrain James from making any further statements against her. She has also asked for a public apology.
The suit, filed through advocate Adnan Shaikh, alleges that defamatory statements were made on social media accusing Motwani and her brother Prashant Motwani of domestic violence. According to the petition, these claims are false and have caused reputational harm.
Alleged Loan Dispute
The petition further links the dispute to an alleged financial matter. It states that Muskan Nancy James had borrowed Rs 27 lakh during her marriage to Prashant Motwani and that the amount remains unpaid despite repeated requests.
Motwani has also clarified that she had limited involvement in her brother’s marital life and was not residing with the couple. She stated that she remained largely unaware of their personal issues as their relationship deteriorated over time.
FIR and Counter Allegations
The legal proceedings follow an earlier FIR filed by Muskan Nancy James against her husband and Hansika Motwani. In her complaint, she alleged cruelty, harassment, interference in her marriage, and demands related to expensive gifts.
She also stated that the stress arising from the situation affected her health.
Motwani has denied all allegations, maintaining that she was not part of any shared household arrangement and cannot be held responsible for the claims made against her.
Parallel Legal Action
In addition to the civil defamation suit, Motwani has filed a criminal defamation case against James before an Andheri magistrate’s court under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Earlier, she had approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash the FIR filed against her, describing the allegations as baseless. The High Court has issued a notice on her plea.
Background
The dispute originates from the marriage between Prashant Motwani and Muskan Nancy James, who were married in 2020 and have reportedly been living separately since 2022.
Hansika Motwani has also stated that she has been living separately following her own marriage in 2022.
What Next
The matter is currently under legal consideration, with proceedings ongoing in multiple courts. No final conclusions have been reached, and the claims made by both sides remain subject to judicial review.
