Daijiworld Media Network (SR)

Mumbai, Jun 4: The lawyer of the woman who accused Karan Oberoi of rape and extortion, Ali Kaashif Khan, surrendered before Oshiwara police on Monday morning. He was on the run ever since one of the accused told the police that he was a relative of Khan and that it was the lawyer who had instructed him to carry out the attack. The victim, a 34 year astrologer, was attacked when she was taking a morning walk and the miscreants were identified as brothers Zishan Ansari (23) and Altamash (22), Jithin Santosh kurian (22) and Arafat Ahmed Ali (21).

Ali was produced before Andheri court which granted him bail on Monday. The police while seeking Khans custody told the court that Khan had made a statement in front of them that he acted as a mediator between the woman and four assailants and that the "woman had plotted the attack on herself." As per TOI report, Khan's lawyer argued before the court that the offence was bailable and Khan was been framed so there was no need for police custody. He said Khan was ready to cooperate with police in their probe and had already submitted a statement which clearly mentioned the role of complainant in the attack. After going through Khan's statement, the judge granted him bail on a Rs 15,000 surety.

While emerging from court Khan told reporters that "The woman used my cousin Altamash Ansari (22) to carry out the attack after paying him Rs10000. The planning took place at her home two days before the assault, when I introduced Altamash to her as someone who had some contacts in the ministry. She wanted to organize a #MeToo campaign in Delhi. Minutes after Altamash returned from her flat, I found his behaviour weird. When I learnt about the attack on May 25, I rushed to help her file an FIR. The same day, cops told us they had got hold of the attacker’s bike number. It was then that the woman confessed to me that she had plotted the attack."

However the complainant refuted Khan's allegations as baseless and said "This is absolutely false. The investigation shall prove the truth of the matter. I always had a strong case on merit. My original advocate was doing a fabulous job. Khan, as a second advocate, was more interested in a media trial and in facing the cameras while I was not, therefore I never came forward until now. What his agenda for the media trial was, he knows best. I only know I have suffered in the bargain for having trusted people blindly," The woman further said " I have never met Khan's cousins nor do i indulge in black magic. I do prayers chanting etc which is beneficial to people and i have never harmed anyone till date. He is making false allegations to wriggle out of the situation. I would have not got myself attacked by anyone despite having a strong case on merit even on wrong advice."

The woman also stated that after she was slashed with a paper cutter, the men on the bike had threatened to hurl acid at her if she did not withdraw the rape case against Oberoi. Police inspector Shailesh Pasalwar of said they were probing the case in the right direction.