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TimesView This paper has been unwavering in its campaign against sexual violence of any kind. But, equally, it has called for strict punitive action, including imprisonment, where complainants have been found to have brought false charges of harassment and rape. Indeed, the courts themselves have come down hard in numerous such cases where allegations were levelled either to extort/blackmail, or as revenge for relationships that didn't end in happily-ever-after. Leave alone the trauma of jail, the mental agony and reputational damage that the accused have to endure is incalculable. Without pre-judging any case, the police and the courts need to send out a message that the consequences of trumped-up allegations will be severe.

MUMBAI: A day after the lawyer of the woman who accused actor Karan Oberoi of rape told court that she had directed the May 25 attack on herself, a senior police officer said her name would be included in the chargesheet in the case to be filed in court soon. She is likely to be arrested once the chargesheet is filed.The senior officer, who did not wish to be named, said before filing of chargesheet, her name will be added in the FIR in the assault case as an accused. She will be charged with conspiracy and also under Sections 182 and 203 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to providing false information about an offence committed and “with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to cause injury to another person.” Police may also send the woman, a 34-year-old model-astrologer, a notice asking her to record her statement.The lawyer, Ali Kaashif Khan (25), surrendered before Oshiwara police on Monday after one of the four youths arrested in the attack, Altamash Ansari, said he was related to Khan.An officer at Oshiwara police station said, “Khan confessed he was the mediator between his cousin Altamash and the woman. There is enough evidence to prove the woman’s role. Also, Altamash told us he had a meeting with the woman after his cousin (the lawyer) introduced him to her at her Andheri flat on May 24. The next day, the attack was carried out according to the plan. The lawyer too has said he had discussed the attack conspiracy with his cousin and the woman.”The woman, who had filed a complaint stating two men on a bike had slashed her with a paper cutter near Joggers Park in Andheri (W), did not respond when TOI sent her a message on Tuesday asking if police had got in touch with her. On Monday, she had refuted the lawyer’s allegations. She had told TOI she had faith in the law and had never met her lawyer’s cousin.“I have never harmed anyone till date,” she had stated. Khan, in his statement to court on Monday, stated he, along with the woman and one Shadaab Patel, had met at his Bandra home on May 23 to discuss the woman’s plan for a #MenToo rally in Delhi. “Patel said he had political and NGO contacts who could arrange people for the rally,” he claimed.Khan said he later introduced his relative Altamash to the woman at her Andheri residence as Altamash could arrange people for the rally on account of being connected with several political parties in Mira-Bhayander.Khan further stated that after this talk, he went off to buy cigarettes, and when he returned 10-12 minutes later, he saw his cousin’s behaviour was weird. Khan has claimed the woman did “black magic” and got his cousin to plan the attack.All five accused in the case are out on bail.