Farhan and Salman wish shiney all the strenght

Mumbai: Bollywood star Salman Khan was shocked when he heard actor Shiney Ahuja has been sentenced to seven years in prison in a rape case. But he hopes the actor will eventually be declared innocent.

"Seven years? Seven years is a lot! I have been locked up myself, so I know what happens," said Salman, who himself has had brief stints in jail.

The 45-year-old actor, who was embroiled in a hit-and-run case as well as in a black buck shooting case, has good wishes for Shiney, who was sentenced by a Mumbai sessions court on Wednesday.

"I hope he (Shiney) is innocent, and if anyone is trying to frame him, that person should come out in the open. Seven year jail term is too long, especially if someone has lied about it," added Salman.

Producer-director Farhan Akhtar also wishes that actor Shiney Ahuja has the strength to face the the court verdict.

"He has pleaded against the decision. If he can prove it wrong, he will come out. At the end of the day, we have a legal system in the country," Farhan told reporters at a promotional event.

"If you do something wrong, you have to go through punishment. I wish him all the strength. Hopefully, it would be proved that he is innocent," he added.

In his defense, Shiney had argued that he was being framed. Shiney was arrested June 15, 2009, after medical tests on his maid confirmed sexual assault. He was granted him bail in October 2009.

According to reports, Shiney might appeal against the verdict in the Bombay High Court.