Bombay High Court Dismisses Anita Advani's Appeal in Rajesh Khanna Relationship Case
In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court has firmly rejected an appeal filed by actor Anita Advani, who sought legal recognition of her relationship with the late Bollywood superstar Rajesh Khanna as a marriage. The order was delivered by Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, who dismissed Advani's plea challenging a previous lower court decision.
Background of the Legal Dispute
The legal saga traces back to 2017 when the Dindoshi Civil Court initially threw out Advani's civil suit on technical grounds. Following this setback, Advani approached the Bombay High Court in appeal, hoping to overturn the ruling and establish her claim.
During the proceedings, the High Court considered submissions from Advani's legal counsel as well as representatives appearing for Dimple Kapadia, Akshay Kumar, and Twinkle Khanna. After thorough deliberation, the court upheld the earlier ruling and dismissed the appeal with a straightforward statement: "First appeal is dismissed."
Longstanding Legal Battles
The dispute between Anita Advani and Dimple Kapadia has resulted in numerous legal confrontations since 2012, primarily stemming from Advani's persistent assertion that she shared a significant relationship with Rajesh Khanna. This latest ruling represents another chapter in this protracted legal narrative.
In addition to her civil suit, Advani had previously filed a criminal complaint before a Bandra Magistrate court, accusing Kapadia, Akshay Kumar, and Twinkle Khanna of domestic violence. She alleged that she was forcibly removed from Khanna's iconic bungalow, Aashirwad, following his death.
Previous Domestic Violence Proceedings
However, in 2015, a coordinate bench of the Bombay High Court quashed those domestic violence proceedings against Kapadia, Twinkle Khanna, and Akshay Kumar. The court ruled at that time that Advani's association with Rajesh Khanna did not constitute a relationship "in the nature of marriage" under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
This latest High Court decision reinforces the judicial position that Advani's relationship with the legendary actor does not meet the legal threshold for marriage recognition, effectively closing another avenue in her long-running legal pursuit.
