Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 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

    Swara Bhaskar Wants To Do A Biopic On Indira Gandhi

    Swara Bhaskar Wants To Do A Biopic On Indira Gandhi
    Actress Swara Bhaskar says that she would want to do a biopic on a historical character and feels that former Prime Minister of the country Indira Gandhi will be an amazing character to do a biopic on.

    Swara Bhaskar Wants To Do A Biopic On Indira Gandhi

    Amitabh Bachchan To Be The Face Of City Compost Campaign

    Amitabh Bachchan To Be The Face Of City Compost Campaign
    Megastar Amitabh Bachhan will be the face of the "City Compost Campaign" under Swachh Bharat Mission to encourage citizens to use compost produced from municipal solid waste, an official said.

    Amitabh Bachchan To Be The Face Of City Compost Campaign

    Something I Say May Be Taken As Something Else, Says Salman Khan

    Superstar Salman Khan, who is currently enjoying the success of his film "Sultan" but also embroiled in controversy over his "raped woman" remark, said something he says is liable to be taken to mean something else.

    Something I Say May Be Taken As Something Else, Says Salman Khan

    Deepika Unveils Logo Of 'xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage'

    Deepika Unveils Logo Of 'xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage'
      Deepika, who will play the character named Serena Unger in the upcoming international film, revealed the animated logo of her film on her official Instagram account.

    Deepika Unveils Logo Of 'xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage'

    2002 Hit-And-Run Case: SC Declines Victim’s Plea Against Salman Khan’s Acquittal

    2002 Hit-And-Run Case: SC Declines Victim’s Plea Against Salman Khan’s Acquittal
    While rejecting the plea, the apex court said that the ‘petition of Maharashtra Government challenging Salman Khan’s acquittal is already pending before the court’.

    2002 Hit-And-Run Case: SC Declines Victim’s Plea Against Salman Khan’s Acquittal

    France Attack: B-town Expresses Shock, Sends Out Prayers

    France Attack: B-town Expresses Shock, Sends Out Prayers
    Sad to wake up to the news of the Nice Attack! Heart breaking! I was there last year, beautiful place and people. Prayers for the families of the victims.

    France Attack: B-town Expresses Shock, Sends Out Prayers