Peepli Live co-director Farooqui gets 7 year jail sentence
FollowThe co-director of 2010's hit Peepli (Live), Mahmood Farooqui, who was found guilty of raping a 35-year-old American woman in 2015, was sentenced to a seven-year prison term and fined ₹50000.
During arguments on the sentence, the complainant's counsel Vrinda Grover had said, "The foreigner (victim) was here for research work but was raped by a person she knew, who was her friend and whom she had trusted. The court must keep in mind that there was an additional vulnerability of the woman in a foreign country and it brings disrepute to our country, besides traumatising the victim."
Seeking leniency for the convict, 44-year-old Farooqui's advocate had claimed that he was not a habitual offender and he did not threaten the woman at any point nor was he brutal or violent with her. She also pleaded that his good conduct be considered by the court while awarding the punishment.
The police also sought appropriate compensation for the victim, contending that Farooqui has economic standing to pay her the amount for disrupting her life and research.
"It is a crime which has been held heinous by the apex court and we press for the maximum sentence and fine," the victim's counsel said.
Last year Mahmood Farooqui was accused of raping an American woman pursuing her Ph.D from Columbia University, who was in India for research work. On July 30, a Delhi court convicted Farooqui of raping her.
Farooqui, who was out on bail, was taken into custody immediately after his conviction in the case.
