Justice should take its course but Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, in police custody on charges of raping his teenaged housemaid, shouldn't be condemned until proven guilty, say directors and actors who have worked with him.

Pritish Nandy: The matter is under investigation. Istrongly believe in justice taking its own course. However, I feel too manypeople are jumping to too many conclusions. Let's not judge Shiney until theinvestigations are concluded.

Mahesh Bhatt: The news has shocked andshamed us. The Shiney we at Vishesh Films worked with in 'Gangster - A LoveStory' and 'Woh Lamhe' is not the demon that surfaced in the media on Sundaynight. If what is alleged is proved in the courts, we must condemn the dastardlydeed with all our might. Our outrage cannot be selective.

Anurag Basu: I'm in a state of shocked disbelief. Thishas got to be conspiracy to malign him. Shiney has done two of his best filmswith me. We've bonded over a long period of time. Never ever has there beeneven a hint of bad behaviour from him. I wouldn't have tolerated it. It's notfair to try Shiney on television. Let the law decide. I'll believe it only ifShiney himself tells me. He has worked with some of the most beautifulheroines. No one has ever had any grievance against him. I feel this is a trapto malign him.

Sudhir Mishra: What can I say? The Shiney that I know andthe Shiney that I hear about now are two different entities. 'HazaaronKhwaishein Aisi' was not just the film that launched him it was also a turningpoint in my career. I just can't believe that the Shiney, who is being accusedof this behaviour, is the same person I know. There were so many women on thesets. They never had any complaints about Shiney's behaviour. In fact, Shineydid a film with my assistant Ruchi Narain called 'Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow'.Shiney was always a thorough gentleman. I'm sure there's some misunderstandinghere.

Mukesh Bhatt: I'm appalled by the way the electronicmedium has already labelled Shiney a rapist. You can't do this to a man who hasa family, career and a bright future. Do these byte-hungry channels realise howhis career would be affected by all these premature and careless reports?Punish him by all means, if he's guilty. Suppose they had consensual sex? Thisbehaviour seems so out of character and so absurd.

Kunal Kohli: I worked briefly with Shiney in 'Fanaa'.This is indeed very sad. Rape is the worst crime a man can commit against awoman. If he's guilty, then it's really very shocking and shameful. Any rapistshould be dealt with in the severest way.