Bollywood actor Hansika Motwani has approached a Mumbai sessions court with a defamation suit seeking Rs 2 crore in damages against her estranged sister-in-law, television actor Muskan Nancy James. The plea also seeks a restraining order to prevent James from making further statements against her, along with a demand for a public apology over the allegations.
The case has been filed through advocate Adnan Shaikh, with Motwani alleging that James made false and defamatory claims about her on social media. According to the petition, these statements were made to evade repayment of an alleged loan amounting to Rs 27 lakh. It is claimed that the money was borrowed by James during her marriage to Motwani’s brother, Prashant Motwani, but was not returned despite repeated demands.
Motwani has maintained that she had minimal involvement in her brother’s personal life and was not residing with the couple during their marriage. She stated that the relationship between Prashant Motwani and Muskan Nancy James deteriorated over time, and she was largely unaware of the internal disputes between them.
The petition further describes James as someone who allegedly portrayed a luxurious lifestyle on social media while failing to clear her financial obligations. Motwani has argued that such conduct, combined with the public allegations, has caused reputational harm.
The legal dispute also stems from an earlier complaint filed by James, in which she accused her husband and Motwani of cruelty and harassment. The FIR included allegations of domestic violence, interference in her marital life, and demands for expensive gifts during wedding-related events. James also claimed that the stress caused by the marriage led to her developing Bell’s Palsy, a condition that results in partial facial paralysis.
Motwani has strongly denied all allegations made against her, asserting that she was not part of the household or domestic arrangements and therefore cannot be held responsible for any such claims. She had previously approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash the FIR, arguing that the accusations were baseless and intended to damage her public image. The High Court has issued a notice in response to her plea.
In addition to the civil defamation suit, Motwani has also initiated criminal defamation proceedings against James before a magistrate's court in Andheri under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The dispute originates from the strained marriage between Prashant Motwani and Muskan Nancy James, who were married in 2020 and have reportedly been living separately since 2022. Motwani has stated that discussions regarding divorce between the two had already taken place and that she herself has been living separately from her husband following her own marriage in 2022.
The defamation suit is expected to be heard by the Dindoshi sessions court in due course, as the legal battle between the parties continues to unfold.
