Farooqui forced himself upon US researcher, says common friend

'Peepli Live' co-director Mahmood Farooqui had forced himself upon the American researcher, a common friend of the woman who had introduced her to the film maker, claimed before a Delhi court.

Testifying as a prosecution witness, 44-year-old Danish Hussain, told Additional Sessions Judge Sanjiv Jain that the woman had informed him about the alleged incident immediately through text messages and he had asked her to leave Farooqui's residence as soon as possible.

In his examination-in-chief, Danish, who is also a friend of Farooqui for 10 years, told the court that on the night of March 28, he had received messages from the woman saying she was sexually assaulted by the accused who had forced himself upon her.

"She said she was in some sort of sexual assault situation from the accused (Farooqui). Hearing this from her, I was shocked and asked her to leave the place immediately," he said, adding that he asked her not to be alone and do whatever was best in her interests.

In his cross-examination, he said he had received emails from the woman containing forwarded emails exchanged between her and the accused and also the wife of the accused. Recording of his statement could not be concluded on Tuesday and would continue on Wednesday. The court had examined five police officials and a magistrate, who had recorded the statement of victim under section 164 CrPC in the case.

The recording of the victim's statement was concluded in court on October 1, during which she had remained firm on rape allegations against Farooqui. The woman had also said that after the alleged rape incident, around nine emails were exchanged between her and Farooqui in which he had apologised. On September 9, the court had started the trial in the case after framing charges of rape under section 376 (rape) of IPC against Farooqui, who has denied all charges against him. The police had on June 29 filed the charge sheet against Farooqui alleging he had raped the 30-year-old research scholar from Colombia University at his Sukhdev Vihar house in south Delhi on March 28 this year.