Shiney to be tried for rape in fast-track court

Jun 19, 2009 IANS

Mumbai, June 19 (IANS) The rape case against Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja will be tried in a fast-track court, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced here Friday, while the National Commission of Women (NCW) said that medical reports proved rape.

Chavan said the formalities to transfer the case to a fast-track court would be completed soon.

"As per the state government's policy in such matters, we shall provide full financial assistance and all other support to enable the victim rehabilitate herself," the chief minister said.

The actor's teenaged domestic help Sunday lodged a complaint with police that he had raped her. He was arrested and at the end of police custody Thursday was sent to judicial custody till July 2.

Shiney is now lodged in the Arthur Road Jail in south Mumbai.

A three-member NCW team met the victim, the actor's wife Anupam who has strongly defended him, police and investigating officials and senior state government officials, commission chairperson Girija Vyas told reporters here.

"Medical evidences and other records we have seen confirm that the victim has been raped. Now, the law will take its own course," she said.

Vyas, who earlier Friday demanded that the case be transferred to a fast-track court, said that even Chief Minister Chavan had expressed his concern over the issue, especially since it involved a prominent Bollywood personality.

Vyas said that transferring the case to a fast-track court was necessary in the interest of quick justice to both parties.

"Moreover, in such cases, prolonged trial could lead to the victim and witnesses being influenced or pressurised," Vyas pointed out.

She said that if quick justice can be rendered through a fast-track court, it would be good for the victim and also for the accused if he is proved innocent.

The victim's parents, who live in Kokbaan village in neighbouring Raigad district, arrived in the city Friday morning and met the NCW team in south Mumbai.

Shiney has been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376 (rape), 346 (wrongful restraint) and 506 (threat to kill), among others.

The 35-year-old actor has starred in movies like "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi", "Gangster", "Karam", "Woh Lamhe", "Fanaa", "Hijack", "Life In A Metro", and "Bhool Bhulaiyya" among others.

He has bagged over half a dozen awards for his movies in the past six years of acting career.