Mahmood Farooqui acquitted in rape case

The Delhi High Court on Monday acquitted Mahmood Farooqui, co-director of Bollywood film Peepli Live, in a rape case involving a US researcher.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar set aside the trial court order which had awarded a seven-year jail term to Farooqui after convicting him for the alleged rape of a 30-year-old American researcher at his south Delhi residence in March 2015.

The High Court directed that Farooqui, who is presently in jail, be released forthwith.

Farooqui had challenged his conviction and the sentence given by the trial court.