More than two years after actor Saif Ali Khan and his friends assaulted an NRI businessman, Iqbal Mir Sharma, at the Wasabi Restaurant in Taj Mahal Hotel, a Mumbai court on Thursday, March 13, 2014 has framed charges against him and his two friends.

The case dates back to February 22, 2012 when NRI businessman Iqbal Mir Sharma had registered a complain against Saif Ali Khan and his friends, who were then arrested by the Colaba Police, Mumbai.

Saif and friends, Bilal Amrohi and Shakeel Ladakh, were charged under section 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and 34 (common intent) of the Indian Penal Code.

In the complaint, the South Africa-based businessman alleged that he and his father-in-law Raman Patel were dining at the restaurant when the actor and his friends assaulted him after he asked them to keep their voices down.

According to police, when Iqbal Mir Sharma, who worked as the deputy director-general of trade and investment in South Africa, protested, Saif allegedly threatened them and subsequently punched Iqbal in the nose, thus fracturing it.

Iqbal Mir Sharma, in his statement stated that, Saif punched him in the nose leading to a fracture, and hit his father-in-law, Raman Patel. The police had filed a charge sheet against the trio on December 21, 2012.

Wife Kareena Kapoor, sister-in-law Karisma Kapoor, Malaika Arora Khan and Amrita Arora were with Saif Ali Khan and his friends when this incident happened.

Saif was arrested and let off on a bail of Rs 15,000. He maintained that Iqbal Mir Sharma made provocative statements and used abusive language against the women accompanying him, leading to his reaction.

Saif Ali Khan, Bilal Amrohi and Shakeel Ladakh were presented before the magistrate at the Esplanade Court on Thursday. They pleaded not guilty to the charges, setting the stage for their trial.

The court will hear the matter on April 30, 2014.