"I am speechless and overwhelmed with the type of relief I got from the trauma me and my family was facing from last eight years, " Bhandarkar told Times Now after the decision was announced.
While staying the proceedings, an apex court bench headed by Justice H.L. Dattu issued notice to the Maharashtra government and Jain on Bhandarkar's plea to quash the case.
Bhandarkar had challenged the Bombay High Court order asking him to stand trial within the alleged rape case.
"We always said it is a false case and the case where victim said, 'Give me the role in 48 hours otherwise I CAN put a case against you.' There has been no whisper of rape in that whole legal thing. Also, on the same time, she gave notice to a different person and said, 'I am pregnant and also you accept the paternity of my child'" he said.
In July 2004, Jain had lodged a complaint alleging that Bhandarkar had raped her several times between 1999 and 2004 under the pretext of marrying her and casting her as actress in his movies.
"Since then I'VE BEEN fighting and police has made a closure report not once but twice saying that this is a false case as there's no proof. Still I USED TO BE facing this ordeal from such a lot of years.
I went to High Court and so they said you again go down. Again we would have liked to squash the entire matter that is the reason we came to apex court today and i'm glad, " he said.
Bhandarkar says he's fighter and that the trauma never dampened his spirit.
"I am the person who believed in fighting. Even within the movie- making also. I received National Award for 'Page 3' and 'Fashion'… My movies have done well on the box office."
