Shiney Ahuja sent to police custody

Jun 15, 2009 IANS

Mumbai, June 15 (IANS) A Mumbai court Monday sent Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja to police custody till June 18 on charges of raping, detaining and threatening his 19-year-old domestic help.

Arrested Sunday night after the victim lodged a complaint against Shiney, the actor was produced before a magistrate in suburban Andheri court this afternoon under tight security, an official said.

The 36-year-old actor has been booked under Section 376 (rape), Section 346 (wrongful restraint) and Section 506 (threat to kill) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). If the charges are proved, they attract a minimum jail term of seven years.

Both Shiney and the victim have undergone medical tests in government hospital. Preliminary medical reports on the victim have proved positive, the official said.

The victim had been working with him for the past one year. She has accused him of repeatedly raping her.

Police claim that after interrogation, Shiney said he had "a physical relationship" with the victim. He has said he could have committed the crime in a drunken state.

He is said to be separated from his wife and living alone. His wife has arrived in Mumbai after Shiney was accused of rape. The couple has a daughter.

Shiney is an alumnus of Army Public School and Hansraj College, New Delhi.

He started his acting career in 2003 with the critically acclaimed movie, "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi". Later, he acted in movies like "Gangster", "Karam", "Woh Lamhe", "Fanaa", "Hijack", "Life In A Metro" and the box-office hit "Bhool Bhulaiyya". He has bagged over half a dozen prestigious awards in the past six years for his roles.