What’s the real story behind the alleged rape of yesteryear Bollywood actress and sex symbol Zeenat Aman by Mumbai businessman Aman Khanna alias Sarfaraz Mohammed? She is 68, he is 38 – yet, the two appear to have shared some kind of closeness or relation that allegedly resulted in Khanna sexually assaulting Zeenat and cheating her of Rs. 15.40 crore in a fraudulent property deal. This reportedly happened over a period of five years between 2010 and 2015. Zeenat went to the Juhu police with her complaint last Thursday. Khanna was arrested and booked under Sections 376, 420, 406, 465, 467, 468, 469, 471, 506 of the IPC for rape and cheating and remanded to police custody until Wednesday. The case, meanwhile, has been transferred to the Crime Branch.

A Bollywood source said, “This is a strange quirk of fate. One of Zeenat’s biggest Bollywood hits was B. R. Chopra’s courtroom drama Insaf Ka Tarazu in 1980 that ironically dealt with deceit and rape. But that was on screen. It is tragic that Zeenat should find herself fighting a real life situation at this advanced age much to the shock of her diehard fans and old friends in the industry.” Yet there are others who take the actress’ pitiful revelations with a pinch of salt. They believe that there is more to the story than has been told to the police. And that Zeenat and Khanna were at some stage in their relationship perhaps married to each other. There is unsubstantiated talk, and some pictures, of them having gone to Hajj as a couple. And having splurged and lost money in casinos at Goa.

RECOMMENDED READ: IT GETS UGLIER: ZEENAT’S ‘HUSBAND’ SARFARAZ SHARES DETAILS ON HER GAMBLING HABIT…

Khanna’s defence counsel pooh-poohs the allegation of  “rape”. He claims that the case filed against Khanna is false and that his client and the veteran actress were husband and wife – so the imposition of Section 376 of the IPC pertaining to rape does not arise at all. However, sources say that the nikaahnamah or marriage certificate produced to back this claim is forged. It was reportedly done when Khanna had taken gold jewelry worth Rs. 15.40 crore from Zeenat in exchange of which he offered to transfer five flats in her name that she subsequently claimed was a fraudulent deal. Indications that all was not well between the actress and businessman came in January when Zeenat filed a stalking case against Khanna and got him arrested for harassment. Now comes this grave charge of rape by her and his counter charge of them being married. It’s driving the police round the bend but makes a good story for Bollywood!