Relying on circumstantial evidence, a fast-track court on Wednesday convicted Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja for raping his maid and sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) although the victim had turned hostile during the trial.
The actor was also fined Rs 3,000 by Sessions Judge P M Chouhan.
However, Ahuja was acquitted of the charges of criminal intimidation and wrongful confinement, Public Prosecutor Kashinath Dighe told reporters who were not allowed in the court as the proceedings were in-camera.
Convicting the accused, the court said it had considered circumstantial evidence-the DNA report was positive, the hymen was torn, there were blood marks on victim's clothes, semen was found on quilt and curtains and Shiney's hand bore scratch marks of the victim.
The court also noted that the 2009 incident had occurred at Shiney's house here, the victim's clothes were torn and there was evidence to show that she had struggled.
It also accepted her statement before a Magistrate alleging she was raped, Dighe said.
After the conviction, the Judge asked Shiney what he had to say about the quantum of sentence.
The actor pleaded for leniency, saying he had a family to look after and a career to pursue.
The prosecution, however, sought life imprisonment or ten years RI for the convict. The court then sentenced him to seven years RI.
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Lawyers Club India
Haider Ajaz
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