Rape: Madhur Bhandarkar has heroine, but not advocate

Mumbai, Dec 16: Bollywood director, Madhur Bhandarkar, who is currently busy shooting his upcoming movie - Heroine with Kareena Kapoor, landed in a new trouble as his lawyer is believed to have ditched him in pursuing the rape case against him.

Preeti Jain, an aspiring actress who filed the case against him, recently claimed that Madhur's advocate - Ashok Mundergi quit the case following the complaint lodged by the model-actress accusing Madhur of taking sexual advantage of her (Preeti) repeatedly.

"Based on my application of professional misconduct, Madhur Bhandarkar's advocate Ashok Mundergi withdrew from the matter before the arguments could begin at the pre-admission stage. Matter was adjourned the court to January 16, so that Bhandarkar can appoint a new advocate. Madhur's application for quashing the issue of process against him is still at a pre-admission stage, and has not been admitted by the High Court. So, right now, Madhur Bhandarakar has no lawyer to defend him!" Preeti has been quoted as saying.

Bhandarkar has been asked to submit his passport and not to leave the country without the court's permission.

A complaint against Bhandarkar was lodged in 2004 by Preeti with the Versova police that he raped her 16 times from 1999-2004 on the grounds that he would cast her in his movies. Madhur has also been charged for threatening the model-actress.

In 2009, Preeti moved the Andheri court with her complaint after which the police submitted a report stating that there is no evidence of rape against the director. The trail was stayed, after which Preeti Jain moved to a local court in Mumbai.

OneIndia News