'We'll see Saif Ali Khan in court'

There's not going to be an easy way out for Saif Ali Khan in Taj brawl case. Tarina Patel, wife of NRI businessman Iqbal Meer Sharma, has ruled out the option of an out-of-court settlement and said she'll see Saif and his friends in court.

There's not going to be an easy way out for Saif Ali Khan in Taj brawl case. Reports of an out-of-court settlement surfaced some days ago and reportedly Tarina Patel, wife of NRI businessman Iqbal Meer Sharma, has denied any intent of compromise.

"An entrepreneur friend Ali Bagash said that Saif asked him for a compromise. I don't know whether we can trust him because everyone around us is trying to get a moment of fame from this unfortunate incident," she told Mumbai Mirror.

Not only did Saif punch her father, apparently Malaika Arora Khan verbally abused them. "I didn't talk about the matter before because I wanted to restrict my comments to the person who wronged us. Now that everyone is sympathising with Saif, I have no option but to expose him further. Mr Ladak punched my father (Raman Patel) and his glasses fell on the floor and my mother stood there in disbelief. I will never forget or forgive him. Also, Malaika Arora Khan was verbally abusing us. I had never witnessed such behaviour before. We will see Mr Saif Ali Khan and his friends in court," the tabloid quoted her as saying.

HT Image

Dramatis Personae (clockwise from top): Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Malaika Arora Khan, Raman Patel, Tarina Patel, Iqbal Meer Sharma.

Reacting to reports that it's a publicity stunt, she told the tabloid: "It is obvious as to who is getting more publicity. Just compare the number of interviews they've given on this issue to mine. They can call me what they like, publicity-hungry or whatever, we're not giving in."

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Flashback

Actor Saif Ali Khan was booked by the Mumbai Police on February 22 under Section 325 of the Indian Penal Code for causing grievous injury.

The brawl happened at the Japanese restaurant Wasabi at Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Colaba. The fight was related to Sharma objecting to noise coming from Saif Ali Khan's table and asked them to speak softly so that others are not disturbed. Apparently at this, Khan told him that 'if he is looking for silence, he should go to a library instead of a restaurant.'

Things got ugly after loud arguments between the two followed, and Khan allegedly punched Sharma on the face causing his nose to fracture. Sharma then went to the nearby Colaba Police Station and lodged an FIR against the actor.

Saif Ali Khan escorted by the police (Photo: Reuters); (inset) Saif post brawl at the Taj hotel (Photo: India TV).

Saif Ali Khan, too, filed a counter complaint against him saying he acted only in defense. "I was hit first. And as shocking as it may seem, the elderly gentleman hit me. I'm not sure what provoked him. I was only defending myself. I don't think any gentleman would have behaved any differently than what I did. I am confident that justice will be done. I think they (police) have the CCTV footage from the restaurant and that will prove everything," Saif said at a press conference for Agent Vinod.

The actor was accompanied by girlfriend Kareena Kapoor and her sister Karisma, Malaika Arora Khan and her sister Amrita with her husband Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi, a producer.