Alleged attack on Prithvi Shaw: Accused Sapna Gill remanded to police custody till February 20

A Mumbai court on Friday remanded social media influencer Sapna Gill to police custody for allegedly attacking Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw and his friends outside Hotel Sahara Star in Mumbai's Santacruz..Gill and co-accused Shobit Thakur were arrested on Friday Gill was then produced before the Andheri Magistrate on Saturday who remanded her to police custody till February 20, Monday. .On Friday, the Oshiwara police station in Mumbai arrested five persons for abusing and attacking Shaw and damaging his car. Their case was that Shaw and his friends were having dinner at Hotel Sahara Star’s cafe on Wednesday.Shaw alleged that Gill and Thakur after taking a few selfies with him, began to harass him for more photographs. When Shaw refused to pose for more selfies, the two allegedly misbehaved with him. When Shaw and his friend were leaving the hotel at 4 am in the morning, Gill along with others came on motorcycles and car and abused Shaw and his friend. One of the accused broke the rear windshield of the car with a bat, the complaint stated.After this, Gill threatened Shaw with a false complaint and demanded ₹50,000 to back off..Post this, an FIR was registered on the complaint for rioting, extortion and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Gill, Thakur and others..The Oshiwara police invoked Section of 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion) of IPC after watching the video recording of the incident. The provision is punishable with imprisonment upto 7 years. The investigating officer told the court that they needed to trace and arrest more people in the case, and hence Gill and Thakur’s custodial interrogation was necessary. Advocate Ali Kaashif Khan appearing for Gill opposed the remand stating that it was Shaw who had misbehaved with and attacked her. He added that section 387 had been added illegally. “Gill hails from a well-to-do family. She is Shaw’s fan. But the cricketer misbehaved with her and even attacked her with a bat,” he said..The Court after hearing the parties remanded Gill to police custody.