Actor Shiney Ahuja appeals rape conviction

Mumbai, April 19 (IANS) Actor Shiney Ahuja Tuesday moved the Bombay High Court challenging his conviction for the rape of his maid in June 2009.

'Justice A.R. Joshi admitted the appeal challenging Shiney's conviction by a sessions court, which sentenced him to seven years rigorous imprisonment,' his lawyer Shrikant Shivade told IANS.

Shivade also said that they have filed a bail application pending hearing of the appeal. 'It is likely to come up for hearing on April 27,' he said.

A Mumbai sessions court March 30 sentenced the actor to seven years in jail after finding him guilty of raping his maid.

Ahuja was arrested June 15, 2009 after medical tests on the maid confirmed sexual assault. The Bombay High Court had granted him bail in October 2009.

Over a year after accusing Ahuja of raping her, the maid, in September 2010, told the court that the rape never took place, though the medical examination had confirmed rape.