In another setback for Goa police, the High Court of Bombay at Goa quashed an FIR, chargesheet and all criminal proceedings against activist Gaurav Bakshi, holding that informing a public servant of his intention to approach vigilance authorities or pursue a legal remedy cannot be accused of criminal intimidation.
In its order on Wednesday, the Bench of Justice Amit Jamsandekar set aside the FIR registered by Panaji Police on December 12, 2025, subsequent chargesheet and the proceedings pending before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Merces.
This relief to the actor-turned-social activist comes over a year after the High Court had quashed another FIR and chargesheet filed by Colvale police wherein he was charged for allegedly wrongfully restraining Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar.
In the present matter, a complaint was filed by an official attached to the Tiswadi Mamlatdar's office alleging that Bakshi abused him, threatened him and created a disturbance regarding a land-conversion file. The prosecution, during the hearing before the Bench, submitted that Bakshi told the official, “I will show you” and “I will see that you lose your job by registering a vigilance case against you.”
The High Court, however, found that the allegations did not disclose any threat of injury to the complainant's person, reputation or property, nor did they show that the official was placed under any immediate fear or apprehension.
“A person informing another that he would take recourse to a lawful remedy cannot be treated as threatening that person with injury,” the court observed while ruling that the ingredients of criminal intimidation under Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were not made out.
The court further noted there was no allegation of assault, manhandling or use of criminal force against the complainant. It also took note of Bakshi's earlier complaint against the official alleging dereliction of duty, observing that the background could not be ignored.
