Senior journalist arrested for rape

Senior journalist S N M Abdi, who was one of the first to bring to light the Bhagalpur blindings of 1980, was arrested today on charges of rape.

Abdi, who is in his fifties and working with the South China Morning Post, allegedly raped a 29-year-old woman when she went to his flat at New Alipore area in South Kolkata yesterday evening.

The woman in her complaint alleged that Abdi had asked her to come to his house for a job interview. When she went there, Abdi along with a friend, Saiful Islam, raped her.

Police arrested Abdi from his residence this morning based on the complaint by the woman.

Abdi was produced before the chief judicial magistrate of Alipore court who remanded him in police custody till September 16 after rejecting his prayer for bail.

Abdi's counsel Tamal Mukherjee submitted that the woman's allegation was false and made with an ulterior motive. 

Stating that Abdi had a bypass surgery just five months ago, Mukherjee said it was not possible for him to commit such an act and also that he was a man of impeccable character.

The prosecution lawyer submitted that Saiful was absconding and it was necessary to interrogate Abdi in order to arrest the co-accused.

The court, while passing the remand order, directed the prosecution to ensure proper medical care to Abdi in view of his heart condition.