NEW DELHI: Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw on Tuesday said that the complaint filed against him by social media influencer Sapna Gill in an alleged molestation case was baseless and motivated, arguing that it was aimed at damaging his reputation and drawing publicity.

In a written submission before the court, Shaw contended that Gill was playing the "womanhood card" to pursue what he described as a personal vendetta. He linked the allegations to a separate 2023 incident in which Gill was booked following a confrontation involving Shaw.

Gill was arrested in February 2023 after an alleged altercation at a suburban hotel, reportedly triggered by a dispute over taking selfies with the cricketer.

After being granted bail, Gill approached the Airport police station in Andheri and lodged a complaint against Shaw, his friend Ashish Yadav, and others, alleging molestation and outraging of modesty. However, the police did not register a First Information Report (FIR) in the matter.

Gill then approached a magistrate's court, seeking a direction to police to register an FIR. Police told the court in their reply that no offence was made out against Shaw and others.

The magistrate then ordered a fresh inquiry by police under section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Such an inquiry is aimed at determining if there are sufficient grounds to proceed with a case.

Unhappy with the order, Gill filed a revision petition before a sessions court in April 2024 through advocate Ali Kaashif Khan.

Shaw, after failing to respond on multiple occasions, finally filed his reply on Tuesday, stating that Gill was "playing the womanhood card with sole intention to settle the personal vendetta as counterblast" to the FIR against her.

"The present criminal revision application is false, frivolous, vexatious and filed with the sole intention to malign, defame and harass the respondent by misusing his public image and celebrity status," Shaw's reply said.

Gill is a struggling actor", and had moved the court "with sole intention to gain publicity" and "extort handsomely" from the cricketer by implicating him in a false complaint, it alleged.

The matter will be next heard on March 31.

Responding to the reply, Gill's lawyer stated that it does not cover a "single iota of evidence or alibi in support of his case".

(With PTI Inputs)