HC expedites Shiney's appeal in rape case

The Bombay High Court today expedited an appeal filed by actor Shiney Ahuja against his conviction in a rape case and posted the hearing in August.
Shiney had filed an application in the High Court seeking hearing of his appeal to be expedited as its pendency was tormenting him and he wants to start life afresh.
The actor was convicted and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by a fast-track sessions court in March 2011 for raping his domestic maid in 2009 at his suburban residence. He was granted bail by the HC pending hearing into his appeal soon after.
Senior counsel Ashok Mundargi, appearing for the actor, today argued that trial in the case was fast-tracked considering the furore it had created at that time and hence even the appeal should be heard at the earliest.

Justice Sadhana Jadhav allowed the application and said the court would start hearing his appeal from third week of August.
In his appeal, Shiney had contended that the investigation by police was "one-sided and biased" and the investigating officer did not feel the need to examine the call data records (CDR) and CCTV evidence that supported his case, since it would have been a drawback for the prosecution.

"The trial court too failed to direct Investigating Officer to produce the CDR and CCTV evidence which would have brought out the truth to the world that no rape had been committed," the appeal stated.

Shiney said he has to look after his old and ailing parents, wife and five-year-old daughter and "the pendency of a frivolous conviction is tormenting" him and his family.
He contended that appeals of year 2000 were now being heard while his appeal pertained to 2011. Hence, there was no chance of it being heard in some years to come, he said.
Shiney said he was framed in a "frivolous" case and the worst possible damage had been done to him, adding he was suffering "individually, psychologically, emotionally, socially and professionally" because of the case.