HC expedites hearing in Shiney Ahuja case

The Bombay high court on Tuesday expedited the appeal against the conviction of Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, after he told the court he has faced a lot of prejudice after being convicted and wants to "start life afresh". Mohan K Korappath reports.

The Bombay high court on Tuesday expedited the appeal against the conviction of Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, after he told the court he has faced a lot of prejudice after being convicted and wants to "start life afresh".

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Ahuja was arrested in 2009 after his 20-year-old domestic help accused him of raping her. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, but was later released on bail till such time that his appeal against the conviction would be heard.

Ahuja's counsel Ashok Mundargi on Tuesday said the DNA test results, the domestic help's evidence as well as the circumstantial evidence did not support the case against him.

"Let the man start his life afresh. There has been a lot of prejudice against him," Mundargi argued.

Ahuja had moved court seeking to expedite his appeal against conviction on the grounds that the delay is tormenting him, that has been unemployed since then and that he has a wife, daughter and ailing parents to take care of.

The court held that the conviction cannot stand if there is no evidence. It then disposed of the actor's application with a direction to place the appeal for hearing on December 17.