Shiney Ahuja's maid now claims rape never took place

Mumbai (IANS)- Over an year after Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja's domestic help accused him of raping her, the woman has told the court that the rape never took place. The medical examinations, however, confirm rape.

The 20-year-old woman retracted her accusation last week before a special judge in a fast track court in Sewri where Shiney's "in-camera" trial is currently under way, an official source said Wednesday.

She also stated before the judge that she made the serious charge against Shiney allegedly because of pressure from a woman who introduced her to the actor, the official source said.

Confirming the developments, public prosecutor K.V. Dighe said the court has now declared the victim as a "hostile witness", but the trial will continue.

However, in view of certain restrictions given the sensitive nature of the case, Dighe declined to go into details.

Shiney was accused of raping his domestic help at his Andheri West home here June 14, 2009.

He was arrested and spent 110 days in police and judicial custody in various jails before the Bombay High Court granted him bail on surety of Rs.50,000.

Incidentally, during the investigations and interrogation, Shiney had confessed to having consensual sex with the maid. He reportedly even confessed to having raped her.

The medical examinations, forensic reports on the incident and the DNA tests conducted on both Shiney and the victim suggested rape.

Following a nationwide furore over the incident and intervention by the National Commission of Women, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had ordered the transfer of the case from a regular court to a fast track court to ensure speedy justice for the victim.

While granting bail, Justice A.P. Deshpande imposed stringent conditions on Shiney, ordering him to live in New Delhi till the trial started in Mumbai, not to influence witnesses, deposit his passport with the police, and report regularly to a nearby police station while in the capital.

The case against Shiney will continue before the fast track court and the outcome would depend on the statements of other witnesses besides the evidence gathered against him.

About the victim, legal circles say that if she was found to have lied before the court, she could be liable for perjury and face appropriate action.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sep 15.