Already out on bail, the wait gets longer for Shiney Ahuja

The Bombay high court has refused to grant relief to Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, who had sought expeditious hearing in his appeal against conviction in a rape case dated June 14, 2009. Citing reason that the actor is already out on bail, the HC said there was no urgency in the matter.

Explaining that two-decade-old cases are pending hearing, Justice Sadhana Jadhav said: "Appeals of the year 1993-94 are pending hearing. Hence, the applicant's request for early hearing will be considered in due course of time."

Comparing Ahuja's case to longer-pending ones, Justice Jadhav added, "The appeals of even public servants who are due for retirement, are pending hearing. Comparatively, this is a fresh appeal. Hence there is no urgency in the matter as he (Ahuja) is already out on bail."

However, the judge has granted liberty to Ahuja to file a fresh application seeking expedited hearing, in case his appeal is not heard within a year.

His counsel Manoj Mohite stated that the sentence was the reason behind Ahuja not receiving any work, which is why the actor had sought an expeditious hearing in his appeal.

On March 30, 2011, a sessions judge had sentenced Ahuja to seven years of rigourous imprisonment for raping his domestic help on June 14, 2009. Further, a fast track court had imposed fine of Rs3,000 on the actor. Ahuja was then acquitted of the charges of criminal intimidation and wrongful confinement.

Although the maid has retracted her statement of having been raped, the sessions court convicted Ahuja based on circumstantial evidence. However, he was released on bail by the Bombay HC pending hearing in his appeal. The HC had admitted his appeal in April 2011.