Australian woman gives twist to Pushkar rape case

Ajmer, Apr 27 (UNI) The Pushkar rape case involving a Japanese tourist and a local hotel manager has taken a new turn with an Australian woman coming out strongly in defence of the accused in the court.

Tamamo Simada, an Australian teaching English in Japan's Westgate Corporation School, appeared in the Pushkar court yesterday and testified in a written statement that she stayed in the Quiet Guest House, where the reported rape took place from March 27 till April 5.

She said the main accused and hotel manager Babloo's birthday party was organised on April 2 but he was out the whole day. Babloo came in at night and participated in the party for some time, after which everybody retired to bed. But no lassi was served that night.

Tamamo said the next day, the alleged victim did not say anything about rape. The victim behaved quite normally during the camel safari organised after two days.

Tamamo said she heard the news of Babloo being victimised while in Delhi and returned to Pushkar to clear the image of the hotel manager.

Later Tamamo told reporters that the alleged victim had told her that she was in love with Babloo and often used to praise him.

Tamamo also said the victim loaned 1000 pounds to Babloo for three months.

The court admitted Tamamo's statement as document.

The victim had alleged that on April 2 Babloo made lassi for her with an intoxicant after which she fainted. Babloo allegedly raped her then and had been doing so in the past few days at the Quiet Guest House.

The victim somehow managed to escape to Agra from where she faxed a message to police in Pushkar on April 17, recording her complaints.

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