A Delhi court has taken a significant step in the high-profile case involving businessman Samir Modi, directing the police to register a formal case of extortion against the woman who had accused him of rape. The court strongly criticized the Delhi Police for serious investigative lapses and unexplained delays.
Court Slams Police, Orders Immediate Action
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vinod Joshi, in an order passed on December 16, directed the Station House Officer (SHO) of the New Friends Colony Police Station to register the First Information Report (FIR) for alleged extortion. The court mandated that a compliance report be submitted by December 17. The magistrate noted that the investigating agency could not deny a complainant his fundamental right to a fair investigation.
The court's order highlighted glaring gaps in the police probe into the rape allegations against Samir Modi, who is the executive director of Godfrey Phillips India. It pointed out that the chargesheet filed in the rape case was completely "silent on the allegations levelled by him and the investigation, if any." The bench made a crucial observation, stating, "The machinery of investigating agency cannot be employed to defeat the rights of the complainant for a fair investigation upon his complaint."
Chronology of Complaints and Alleged Extortion
The court underscored a critical timeline that raised questions about the police's handling of the matter. Samir Modi had lodged his complaint alleging extortion in August 2025. However, the FIR in the rape case was registered only four months later. The court noted this unexplained delay by Delhi Police in acting on Modi's initial complaint.
Modi's legal team, led by senior advocate Vikram Sharma along with advocates Siddharth Yadav and Saurabh Ahuja, presented evidence including WhatsApp chats and voice recordings to support their claims. They argued that the relationship between the parties was consensual and that the dispute stemmed from a prior personal connection. The counsel alleged that the woman had demanded a sum of Rs 15 crore and threatened to implicate Modi in false cases if he did not comply.
Ongoing Legal Battles and Bail Status
Samir Modi was arrested in September 2025 following the registration of the rape FIR. However, he was subsequently granted bail by the Saket court on September 25, 2025. The legal battle is being fought on multiple fronts. While the extortion case has now been ordered to be registered, Modi's petition seeking the quashing of the rape FIR itself is still pending before the Delhi High Court.
Simultaneously, the woman who made the rape allegations has filed a separate plea seeking the cancellation of the bail granted to Samir Modi by the Saket court. This development adds a new and complex layer to an already contentious case, putting the spotlight on the conduct of the initial police investigation and the sequence of events as claimed by both parties.
