‘Peepli- Live’ co-director arrested on rape charges

The police said the victim had met Farooqui, who hails from Gorakhpur, in Delhi. Farooqui had allegedly promised to help the woman in her research work.

The incident took place on March 28. “The victim said on the day of the incident, she had gone to Farooqui’s residence in Sukhdev Vihar, where he raped her under the influence of alcohol,” said a police official.

Sources told Millennium Post: “The victim immediately left the country and after reaching US, she dropped him a mail, expressing her anger on the incident. The same day, Farooqui reverted and apologised for the act. The apology mail runs into two pages. Later, the victim contacted director-screenwriter Anusha Rizvi, Farooqui’s wife, on mail. Rizvi also apologised for the act and promised her justice.”

When no action was taken, the victim approached the US Embassy in India, which contacted the Delhi Police. “On Friday, the victim, along with US Embassy officials, reached South-East Delhi’s New Friends Colony police station and filed a case against Farooqui. 

An FIR was registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. Acting upon the allegations, Farooqui was arrested from his residence on Saturday and was produced before a court the same day. He has been sent to judicial custody till July 6,” a senior police official said.

Meanwhile, Rizvi, in a press statement, said: “The complaint is manipulated, false and belated. 

We don’t want to comment any further on the matter because the case is under investigation. We will wait for the court’s decision.”