Close X
Thursday, November 14, 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

    Ajay Devgn Walks The Red Carpet With Daughter Nysa

    Ajay Devgn Walks The Red Carpet With Daughter Nysa
    Actor Ajay Devgn and his 13-year-old daughter Nysa walked hand-in-hand on the red carpet of the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) for the screening of his co-production "Parched".

    Ajay Devgn Walks The Red Carpet With Daughter Nysa

    Kamal Haasan Undergoing Treatment For Fractured Leg

    Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, who was hospitalised after suffering an injury here on Thursday, will continue to undergo treatment in the hospital for two more days, a source said.

    Kamal Haasan Undergoing Treatment For Fractured Leg

    Everyone Is Aware Of 'Dangal' Before 'Sultan', Says Salman

    Everyone Is Aware Of 'Dangal' Before 'Sultan', Says Salman
    Superstar Salman Khan, who is close friends with Aamir Khan, says everyone is aware of the latter's "Dangal" much before his own "Sultan".

    Everyone Is Aware Of 'Dangal' Before 'Sultan', Says Salman

    Nishikant Rejected Suggestion Of Naming 'Madaari' As 'Dangal': Irrfan

    Actor Irrfan Khan says that he initially wanted his upcoming film "Madaari" to be titled "Dangal", but the director Nishikant Kamat didn't approve due to the word's different connotation in Maharashtra.

    Nishikant Rejected Suggestion Of Naming 'Madaari' As 'Dangal': Irrfan

    This Is Uncanny: Priyanka Chopra To Doppelganger Navpreet Banga

    This Is Uncanny: Priyanka Chopra To Doppelganger Navpreet Banga
    Navpreet Banga, a Vancouver based fitness vlogger, looks the spitting image of the "Mary Kom" star and Priyanka said that she showed her picture to her mother.

    This Is Uncanny: Priyanka Chopra To Doppelganger Navpreet Banga

    Parineeti Chopra’s Diet And Fitness Secrets That Led To Her Incredible Weight Loss

    Parineeti Chopra’s Diet And Fitness Secrets That Led To Her Incredible Weight Loss
    Not many actors openly admit to being overweight, but Parineeti Chopra not only accepts it but even talks openly about feeling unfit and overweight. Not many actors openly admit to being overweight, but Parineeti Chopra not only accepts it but even talks openly about feeling unfit and overweight. 

    Parineeti Chopra’s Diet And Fitness Secrets That Led To Her Incredible Weight Loss