A special women’s court court today convicted filmmaker Jerrit John for throwing acid on his ex-girlfriend in 2012,, and sentenced him to five years in jail. John was however acquitted on attempt to murder charges.
On November 7, 2012, John allegedly hurled a chemical on his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend, physiotherapist Aryanka Hosbetkar, at her Worli residence. He was arrested in Nalasopara three days later. The police alleged that John planned the attack after Hosbetkar refused to marry him despite the fact that he was ready to divorce his wife. He has a five-year-old son.
In the bail application which was rejected, John said that he and Hosbetkar were in love and in a relationship. He also said that she was aware that he was a married man and despite that she continued with the relationship. The bail applications stated that even as John was willing to file for divorce, Hosbetkar ditched him. He alleged that since it was difficult for Hosbetkar to say no to him and she wanted to get out of the relationship, she had falsely implicated him. John also said that there was no case made under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code as he had no intention to kill her. The allegations made against him were false, imaginary, concocted, unnatural and improbable, he said. John alleged that Hosbetkar had only suffered “minor” injuries.
The bail application stated that Hosbetkar was also managing his financial affairs and a huge fund was credited to her. The Navi Mumbai resident alleged that the money she collected as his business partner was not given to him.