The Worli police on Saturday recorded the statement of Anil Virmani, husband of yesteryear actor Rati Agnihotri, who has been accused by Rati of harassment, assault and physical abuse following which an FIR was registered in the case. The police said they are yet to reach a decision on whether to place Anil under arrest or not. They are verifying the facts circumstances under which the alleged assault took place. Sources say that the actor’s servant’s statement would also be recorded as he has been identified as a witness in the case.
“His statement was recorded late on Saturday evening where he gave us his version of the events. He has refuted the allegations levelled by his wife,” said senior police inspector Vinay Kulkarni of the Worli police station. The contents of the statement however remain unclear and police are refusing to divulge the same. A senior officer said, “We have to verify over what reason the assault took place and other issues surrounding the discord between the couple.
Some witnesses also need to be identified. We have not yet found the need to place him under arrest for custodial interrogation and will take a decision to do so only after examining and ascertaining both their claims.”
Rati who made her foray into the Hindi film industry with award winning movie Ek Duje Ke Liye in 1981 told the police in her complaint that her husband had beaten her up on March 7 following an argument. The two married in 1985 and have a son Tanuj, who is also an actor. According to Rati, her architect husband who also runs a construction business had been taking out the anger for his entrepreneurial losses on her over the past few years.
Following the complaint, the police registered a case under sections section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) section 506 (criminal intimidation) and section 350 (criminal force) of the IPC.
The actor, who lives near Atria Mall in Worli, showed the police abrasions on her hand she sustained after the alleged assault. The police are also likely to interview to the doctors who treated Rati’s hand injury to establish the medical facts in the case. “She had said that the assault on March 7 was the final straw which prompted her to take the legal recourse,” said an officer.
