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Nearly a decade after the death of model-actor Sonika Chauhan in a road accident, the case continues to be heard at the Alipore Court in Kolkata, with key witness testimony now underway. Actor Shaheb Bhattacherjee appeared before the court on Monday and Tuesday to record his statement for the first time in the nine-year-old case, which remains under trial with witness examinations ongoing. Chauhan died on April 29, 2017, after the car she was travelling in crashed on Rashbehari Avenue. Actor Vikram Chatterjee , who was driving the vehicle, survived the accident. Bhattacherjee’s testimony is considered crucial, as Chauhan was not only his colleague but also his partner for nearly four years, and the couple was reportedly planning to get married before the incident.

It’s picked up momentum after nine years, hopefully now the guilty will be punished: Shaheb Bhattacherjee

After nine years, I was finally called to court. After the government change, hearings increased, the case gained pace. I pray the guilty are punished: Shaheb Bhattacherjee



Sonika’s family never gave up. Their only purpose was to seek justice: Shaheb Bhattacherjee

‘The delay took away the momentum of the protest’
Shaheb said prolonged legal delays weakened public protests seeking justice for Sonika Chauhan , noting that momentum faded over time. “When the incident happened in 2017, there was a huge protest demanding justice for Sonika. If you prolong a protest long enough, it loses momentum…the process was dragged so people would forget,” he said, adding that only Sonika’s parents remained steadfast. He said, “They never gave up…their only purpose was to seek justice,” adding that all her family wants is justice. Sonika’s family refused to comment on this till the time of going press.

I remember the day we lost Sonika. The 9am call from her mother on April 29, 2017 still feels like a nightmare – she had called me after police told her of the accident : Shaheb Bhattacherjee

‘I hope the guilty have their day in court’
While declining to disclose details of his testimony, Shaheb said he had shared everything he knew before the court and refused to reveal the identities of other witnesses, citing that the matter remains sub judice. Without elaborating, he referenced actor Vikram Chatterjee, who was driving the vehicle during the accident, saying, “Vikram was close to the previous government. People are intelligent enough to understand what was happening.”