Rape case: Morani told to give up

The Hyderabad High Court has upheld that action of the trial court in cancelling the anticipatory bail granted to Bollywood producer Karim Morani in a rape case.

Justice A. Shankar Narayana while dismissing a petition by Morani challenging an order passed by the trial court cancelling his anticipatory bail directed the producer to surrender before the police by September 22.

The judge said that if Morani failed to surrender. the police was at liberty to take steps to secure his presence as per the law.

The Hayathnagar police had registered a case against Morani on the complaint of a 25-year-old woman alleging that he had raped her in Mumbai and at a film studio here in 2015.

Police registered case under IPC Sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation), 493 (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of marriage).

Morani secured anticipatory bail from the trial court. The victim then moved the trial court alleging that the producer was threatening and blackmailing her. The trial court cancelled the anticipatory bail.

Mr D. Ram Reddy, additional public prosecutor, said Morani’s custodial interrogation was necessary to collect evidence and recover the pictures that he had taken of the victim.

He said that the petitioner has suppressed his alleged role in the 2G scam while seeking bail from the trial court and as well as the High Court.