Bollywood Garam: Even though the rape victim turned hostile in court, Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in Mumbai on Wednesday. The decision was taken by the fast track sessions court and the judgment has put the actor’s career to an end- for now.
The “Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi” actor has been accused of raping his maid, who used to do house hold chores at his residence. Judge P M Chauhan, while convicting the accused, had mainly relied on the FIR in the case and refuted claims that the incident never occurred.
The media was not allowed in the court room as the trial was held in-camera. Surprisingly, the court did not even accept the maid’s evidence that she was not raped, as the judge felt that it was false evidence and she possibly turned hostile after a possible secret settlement.
A policeman had said that the actor had tears in his eyes, while he was being sentenced. In June 2009, a maid of Shiney had lodged a complaint that she was raped by the actor.
On 14th June, the actor was arrested and was released three months later on bail. However, in September last year the maid had taken back her allegations on the accused and had said that she was never raped even though evidence showed that there was sexual contact between the two. The court had then declared that the victim had turned hostile. Shiney has been charged with rape and wrongful confinement of the victim. Throughout, the actor in his defense had said that he was falsely implicated and that he is innocent.
Shiney is currently married to Anupam Ahuja and they are parents to a daughter born in 2007.
He has acted in movies like “Bhool Bhulaiya”, “Woh Lamhe”, Gangster”, “Life in a… Metro” among others. He was considered as one of the most promising actors in Bollywood till he got embroiled in the rape case, which has ruined his career for good.