Anurag Kashyap at Versova police station on Thursday. Pic/ Anurag Ahire
V Narayan (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 2, 2020)

Mumbai: Film director Anurag Kashyap was questioned for almost 8 hours at Versova police station on Thursday in connection with a complaint of sexual assault filed by actor Payal Ghosh on September 23. The police had on Tuesday issued summons to Kashyap to appear for questioning in the matter.

Deputy commissioner of police Abhishek Trimukhe said that details of the probe could not be disclosed.

Kashyap reached the police station around 10.30am and left around 6.30pm. The interrogation was carried out in a closed chamber where the senior inspector of the police station, an investigation officer and one more official were present. No one else was allowed in the entire day. Kashyap’s lawyer Priyanka Khimani did not respond to calls and text messages by TOI.

Police sources said that Kashyap will be called for a second round of questioning. He has told them that the allegation is false. The police will check with the complainant again.

Ghosh was taken to hospital on Thursday, her lawyer Nitin Satpute said.
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Kashyap was summoned a day after the FIR was registered but could not make it then due to personal and professional commitments
Saimullah Khan (MID-DAY; October 2, 2020)

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap recorded his detailed statement at Versova police station on Thursday in the rape case registered against him. Sources said he denied all allegations against him during the questioning that went on for eight hours.

Kashyap was summoned a day after the FIR was registered but could not make it then due to personal and professional commitments. He had asked for the statement to be recorded on October 1 at 11 am.

The filmmaker arrived at the police station an hour before the scheduled time. According to police sources, he was questioned for eight hours and denied all allegations. Police will verify his version of the story. If any loopholes or discrepancies are found, he will be summoned again.

Sources also said that since the case is old and has no eyewitnesses, it would be a challenge to crack it. The survivor has mentioned the month and year of the incident but not the date. This is also expected to make the gathering of proof difficult. In addition, accessing call records from 2013 will also be difficult.