[Editors’ note: An earlier version of this story included details based on a police report obtained by Forbes. The City of London Police later told Forbes that the report was a forgery. Quartz has removed any details that could not be independently verified.]
In a bombshell story, Forbes today reported that London police investigated a rape claim against Shervin Pishevar, the prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist who was an early Uber investor and backed former Uber CEO and founder Travis Kalanick in his fights with the company’s board.
Pishevar wasn’t charged. According to Forbes, Pishevar was arrested on May 27 at The Ned, an exclusive hotel frequented by London’s financial crowd. Police publicly confirmed that a 43-year-old man from San Francisco had been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, but had not named the individual. He was later released under investigation.
An attorney for Pishevar told Forbes:
“In May 2017, Mr. Pishevar was detained briefly in London in connection with an alleged sexual assault, an allegation he categorically denied. He fully cooperated with the police investigation which was exhaustive and detailed. In July he was informed that no further action would be taken against him and he was “de-arrested” (a British legal term). Mr. Pishevar is grateful for the highly professional and expeditious manner in which the inquiry was conducted.”
Pishevar has meanwhile filed suit against a Republican-led research firm in San Francisco, alleging the firm, Definers Public Affairs, as well as two of its executives, have defamed him in a covert smear campaign. Among other things, Pishevar claims that Definers has spread false information by saying he paid to have the London accusation settled.
A Definers partner, Tim Miller, told Recode that Pishevar’s claims against the firm are “delusional.”
The Pishevar allegations have particular relevance given the numerous charges of sexual assault and harassment against tech executives in Silicon Valley, not to mention in Hollywood, where movie producer Harvey Weinstein has become infamous for his decades-long practice of bullying and intimidating actresses to engage in sexual activity in return for boosting their careers.