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Fast track court will hear rape case: Ashok Chavan

Staff Reporter

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced on Friday that a fast track court would hear the rape case in which film actor Shiney Ahuja is the accused. He addressed journalists along with Dr. Girija Vyas, chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), who had come here to gauge the progress of the case.

In a rare intervention by a Chief Minister, Mr. Chavan promised that the victim would be rehabilitated as per the steps laid down by a government resolution passed in this regard. “She comes from a poor background,” he said, “and so the State will provide her [with] financial and any other kind of assistance she may require.”

Dr. Vyas said: “The NCW has seen the victim’s medical reports, which prove that rape has been committed. However, we cannot proclaim the accused guilty until his guilt is proved by DNA reports, which are awaited.”

She added that the actor’s wife had met her and maintained that the accused was innocent. “The actor’s wife does not believe any professional rival to be behind the victim’s accusation,” she said.

Dr. Vyas also clarified that she had not decided to personally supervise the case because it involved a celebrity. She said the NCW had taken up the gang rape cases in Surat (a week ago) and in Bhopal (on Thursday). She pointed out that a Rajasthan court had announced its verdict in a similar case in 21 days.

Praising the Chief Minister for his sensitivity, she urged him to ensure a speedy trial.

Mr. Chavan and Dr. Vyas also said the case did not reflect the entire Hindi film industry. Dr. Vyas praised the industry for imparting good virtues through films such as Mother India, in which a mother shoots her son for misbehaving with a girl.

Bollywood producer and director Mahesh Bhatt, who was also present at the press conference, demanded justice for the accused along with justice for the victim. He asked the media not to convert a sensitive rape case into an “entertainment product.”

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