Bollywood director Mahmood Farooqui convicted of raping American student

The woman had gone to meet him for help on her research

Farooqui directed the 2010 Bollywood hit Peepli Live film about farmer suicides along with his wife Anusha Rizvi (Getty)

A renowned Bollywood director has been convicted of raping an American student last year.

Mahmood Farooqui, who is known for co-directing the 2010 satire Peepli Live, was found guilty of the attack by a special fast-track trial court in New Delhi.

Farooqui was accused of raping a 35-year-old woman at his south Delhi residence on 28 March 2015. The woman, who was a Hindi Studies scholar, had travelled to the city from Columbia University for research work for her doctoral thesis and had gone to meet him for help on her research.

The woman stood by her complaint in court and alleged that Farooqui had raped her and later apologised via a number of emails exchanged between the two of them.

Farooqui denies the allegations and has said he was falsely implicated.

Farooqui, who had been placed on bail, was taken into custody soon after the court pronounced him guilty. The court will hear arguments on sentencing on 2 August. The offence of rape carries a minimum punishment of seven years rigorous imprisonment and a maximum punishment of imprisonment for life.

Farooqui directed the 2010 Bollywood hit Peepli Live film about farmer suicides along with his wife Anusha Rizvi.