HC allows Farooqui’s friend to be re-examined

The Delhi high court on Friday allowed a prosection witness to be re-examined before a trial court in the case, in which an American researcher was allegedly raped by film-maker Mahmood Farooqui.

A Bench of Justice SP Garg allowed the plea moved by the US national, seeking re-examination of crucial witness Ashish, a childhood friend of Farooqui, in the case. Appearing for the victim, advocate Vrinda Grover argued that some new facts have been introduced, which were against the case of the prosecution, for which Ashish needed to be re-examined.

The court has fixed February 22 for the re-examination of Ashish before the trial court.

On October 8 last, Ashish had recorded his statement before the trial court and claimed that he had reached the accused’s house on the night of alleged incident around 8.30 pm and the complainant had arrived sometime later. Ashish had said that after some time when the researcher said she wanted to leave, Farooqui had booked a cab in which she left. Farooqui had denied all allegations against him.