Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

Mahmood Farooqui's conviction unjust: Anusha Rizvi

Darpan News Desk IANS, 05 Aug, 2016 11:49 AM
    The conviction of Mahmood Farooqui, co-director of Hindi film "Peepli Live" for rape is unjust, says his wife Anusha Rizvi. She says they will appeal the judgment and hope to secure justice in the High Court.
     
    A court here on Thursday sentenced Farooqui to seven years jail after finding him guilty of raping an American woman.
     
    Additional Sessions Judge Sanjiv Jain also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Farooqui, who was convicted on July 30 of raping a 35-year-old woman from Columbia University who was in India for research on her doctoral thesis.
     
    Reacting to the judgment, Rizvi said in a statement she posted on her Facebook page: "Independent record makes the charge of 'forced oral sex' against Mahmood Farooqui simply impossible. The conviction is unjust for it ignores irrefutable evidence on the most flimsy grounds.
     
    "Indeed, it appears that the Judge has given more than the benefit of the doubt to the prosecution but has expected the defence to prove it's case beyond reasonable doubt. We shall appeal the judgment."
     
    She added: "Lives and reputations are irretrievably lost when there is denial of justice, but our fight for rightful exoneration continues. I firmly believe that we will secure justice in the High Court."
     
    The American woman, who moved to Delhi in June 2014, was looking for contacts for her work in Gorakhpur and came in contact with Farooqui through a common friend. The incident occurred on March 28, 2015 when Farooqui invited her for dinner at his house.
     
    According to the police chargesheet, the woman, who reached his house at 9 pm, found Farooqui was very intoxicated, and he asked her to go to the other room which was his office.
     
    After 20 minutes, she left the office room to smoke in the porch when he told her to come in and sit down. After talking with her for a while, he suddenly kissed her and forced himself on her, the prosecution said, adding that the woman was scared after the incident.
     
    During the trial, the American researcher stood by her complaint and alleged that Farooqui had raped her, while he denied the allegations, and claimed he was falsely implicated.
     
    Reflecting on the trial, Rizvi said: "The complainant is consummately discredited by independent call and cab company records which were presented in court. The defence team has adhered to all feminist principles during the trial and no aspersions on the complainant's character were ever cast by the defence.
     
    The complainant and the prosecution argued that retribution is a public cry and that the nation would fall into disrepute if enhanced penalty was not awarded in a case where the complainant is a foreigner. Fortunately, the court has ignored this outrageous argument."
     
    Rizvi co-directed the critically acclaimed movie "Peepli Live" with her husband.

    MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

    Is Parineeti Chopra Being Considered For Dabangg 3?

    Is Parineeti Chopra Being Considered For Dabangg 3?
    If recent buzz is to be believed, actress Parineeti Chopra is being considered to play the female lead in Dabangg 3.

    Is Parineeti Chopra Being Considered For Dabangg 3?

    Padmavati: Deepika Padukone Refuses To Have Vicky Kaushal As Her Husband In Film

    Padmavati: Deepika Padukone Refuses To Have Vicky Kaushal As Her Husband In Film
    Deepika Padukone has steamy scenes with actors who plays her husband in Padmavati and has reportedly said no to doing the role with Vicky Kaushal.

    Padmavati: Deepika Padukone Refuses To Have Vicky Kaushal As Her Husband In Film

    After 'A Flying Jatt', Tiger, Remo want Indian 'Avengers'

    After 'A Flying Jatt', Tiger, Remo want Indian 'Avengers'
    Actor Tiger Shroff and director Remo D'Souza of the upcoming superhero film "A Flying Jatt", says that with the films on superheroes in the Hindi film industry, it is possible to have an Indian version of the popular Hollywood franchise "Avengers".

    After 'A Flying Jatt', Tiger, Remo want Indian 'Avengers'

    Playing Bengali In Hindi Film Not So Tough: Ayushmann Khurrana

    Playing Bengali In Hindi Film Not So Tough: Ayushmann Khurrana
    Punjabi boy Ayushmann Khurrana, who essays a Bengali babu in his next film "Meri Pyaari Bindu", says it is not as tough as it would have been had he starred in the same role in a Bengali film.

    Playing Bengali In Hindi Film Not So Tough: Ayushmann Khurrana

    Varun Dhawan auditions for 'ABCD 3' on 'Dance+' set

    Varun Dhawan auditions for 'ABCD 3' on 'Dance+' set
    Actor Varun Dhawan and "Dance +" host Raghav Juyal auditioned for "ABCD 3" in front of the film's director Remo DÂ’souza on the dance reality TV show's set.

    Varun Dhawan auditions for 'ABCD 3' on 'Dance+' set

    When I Was 13: Rahul Bose Takes Celebs Down Memory Lane

    When I Was 13: Rahul Bose Takes Celebs Down Memory Lane
    Rahul Bose turned nostalgic on Twitter as he shared memories from when he was 13. He started a campaign asking social media users to share memories or experiences from when they had entered their teens.

    When I Was 13: Rahul Bose Takes Celebs Down Memory Lane