Filmmaker gets 5 years for rape bid

A 40-year-old aspiring director was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment for attempting to rape an 11-year-old, reports Mustafa Plumber.

A 40-year-old aspiring director was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment for attempting to rape an 11-year-old on Wednesday.

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Gautam Verma, who was directing the small-budget movie Agreement-Ek Daastaan and had assisted the late filmmaker Mukul Anand, was pronounced guilty after the court relied on the victim’s and her mother’s testimonies as well as the forensic evidence collected from the crime scene in 2005.

Verma knew the victim’s family who lived in his Four Bungalows neighbourhood in Andheri, the police said. The victim was a close friend of Verma’s nephew and the children often played together.

On October 29, 2005, Verma called the victim to his nephew’s house to play, the police said. When she arrived, he sent his nephew out to buy a few things and attempted to rape the girl in his absence. As soon as the nephew returned, Verma left the house.

The incident came to light when the victim complained to her mother who lodged a complaint.

The police immediately sent the girl for a medical examination and collected vital forensic evidence (semen) from the spot, which helped build a strong case.

Public prosecutor Usha Makasare examined six witnesses to build the case against Verma, who has been out on bail for two years.