Woman to pay Rs 50 lakh for accusing actor of rape

chennai. Perhaps in a first of its kind order, the Madras high court has awarded 50 lakh compensation to an actor who was convicted based on the rape charges levelled by a woman.

About 16 years ago, maverick actor Mansoor Ali Khan found himself in the middle of adverse publicity when a 23-year-old woman accused him of rape. According to the woman, she approached the actor after he put up an advertisement for a secretary. She claimed that in November 1996 Khan took her to a hotel in his car and offered her juice laced with sedatives. She said he raped her repeatedly and threatened her against revealing it to anyone. In May 1998, she gave birth to a girl.

On the woman’s complaint, Khan was arrested on December 11, 1998. He was found guilty of sexual harassment and convicted on March 27, 2001. The trial court awarded him seven years’ rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of 3 lakh. The Madras high court, however, set aside his prison term, but asked him to pay 3.25 lakh to the woman and 7 lakh to the child. His appeal against the ruling was dismissed by the Supreme Court in February 2008.

In his petition in the HC, Khan said he came across a matrimonial case initiated by the woman, seeking to reunite with her husband. Claiming that the marriage took place in August 1994, she had sought restitution of conjugal rights, the petition said.

Real heroes of Chennai rain

Chennai’s new heroes – people who didn’t think twice before helping others during the floods that devastated India’s 4th largest city.

Actor Siddharth is one of amoungst those celebs, who have chosen to go out on the streets and help people affected by the Chennai floods. The Jigarthanda Actor proved that he is the real life Hero too.
With Tamil Nadu reeling under the worst floods to hit the state in a century and with rescue operations getting underway, actors Siddharth and RJ Balaji, popular among Tamil audiences, turned out to help the people. Siddharth was one of the victims of the rains. His house in the city was submerged, but that didn’t stop him from stepping out and helping those in need.

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