<p>“Peepli Live” co-director Mahmood Farooqui was arrested on Saturday on charges of raping a 35-year-old US woman in March while she was in Delhi on a research work.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The rape is said to have taken place at Farooqui’s home in south Delhi’s Sukhdev Vihar on March 28. <br /><br />Quoting the victim, a police officer said Farooqui was under the influence of alcohol when he raped the woman after a party.<br /><br />Farooqui’s wife Anusha Rizvi, who co-directed “Peepli Live” with him, put out a statement claiming the complaint was “manipulated and false”. <br /><br />She also said Farooqui presented himself at the police station concerned as soon as he heard about the case, and was subsequently taken into custody.<br /><br />The woman is pursuing her PhD from Columbia University in New York. She was in India this March to complete her research work. <br /><br />Since her research work was related to a University in Gorakhpur, a common friend introduced her to Farooqui, as the filmmaker hails from that region in Uttar Pradesh, and thus could be of help, said a police officer.<br /><br />It was during one such interaction with Farooqui that she visited his home on March 28 and was allegedly raped. <br /><br />“The victim left India immediately and dropped Farooqui a mail expressing her anger at the rape. Farooqui apologised to her in a reply mail,” said a source. The apology mail is apparently two pages long.<br /><br />The woman told the police she also contacted Rizvi after that through email. She said Rizvi, too, apologised for her husband’s act and promised her justice. <br /><br />Rizvi’s statement, however, declares her husband innocent in the case. When no action was taken, the woman approached the US embassy, which in turn contacted the Delhi Police. <br />Accompanied by US embassy officials, the woman arrived at the New Friends Colony police station on Friday and registered a case of rape. Farooqui was subsequently arrested and sent to judicial custody till July 6. <br /><br />An alumnus of The Doon School and St Stephens College, Farooqui is also known for his revival of the medieval art of Urdu storytelling known as “Dastangoi”.</p>
<p>“Peepli Live” co-director Mahmood Farooqui was arrested on Saturday on charges of raping a 35-year-old US woman in March while she was in Delhi on a research work.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The rape is said to have taken place at Farooqui’s home in south Delhi’s Sukhdev Vihar on March 28. <br /><br />Quoting the victim, a police officer said Farooqui was under the influence of alcohol when he raped the woman after a party.<br /><br />Farooqui’s wife Anusha Rizvi, who co-directed “Peepli Live” with him, put out a statement claiming the complaint was “manipulated and false”. <br /><br />She also said Farooqui presented himself at the police station concerned as soon as he heard about the case, and was subsequently taken into custody.<br /><br />The woman is pursuing her PhD from Columbia University in New York. She was in India this March to complete her research work. <br /><br />Since her research work was related to a University in Gorakhpur, a common friend introduced her to Farooqui, as the filmmaker hails from that region in Uttar Pradesh, and thus could be of help, said a police officer.<br /><br />It was during one such interaction with Farooqui that she visited his home on March 28 and was allegedly raped. <br /><br />“The victim left India immediately and dropped Farooqui a mail expressing her anger at the rape. Farooqui apologised to her in a reply mail,” said a source. The apology mail is apparently two pages long.<br /><br />The woman told the police she also contacted Rizvi after that through email. She said Rizvi, too, apologised for her husband’s act and promised her justice. <br /><br />Rizvi’s statement, however, declares her husband innocent in the case. When no action was taken, the woman approached the US embassy, which in turn contacted the Delhi Police. <br />Accompanied by US embassy officials, the woman arrived at the New Friends Colony police station on Friday and registered a case of rape. Farooqui was subsequently arrested and sent to judicial custody till July 6. <br /><br />An alumnus of The Doon School and St Stephens College, Farooqui is also known for his revival of the medieval art of Urdu storytelling known as “Dastangoi”.</p>
