The #MeToo movement in India gained momentum last year, when in October 2018, actor Tanushree Dutta had filed a complaint against renounced actor Nana Patekar for molestation.
She had accused him of harassing and misbehaving with her while shooting a song on the sets of the film “Horn Ok Pleasss” in 2008. She had alleged that Nana Patekar touched her inappropriately even after she mentioned that she would not perform lewd, vulgar or uncomfortable steps in the dance that was being shot.
Based on her complaint, a case was registered against Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, the film’s producer Samee Siddiqui and director Rakesh Sarang – for allegedly molesting Dutta on the sets of the movie and not listening to her issue with the song.
But in a big twist to the case, actor Nana Patekar has been let off by the Mumbai Police for lack of evidence to prosecute him in the molestation case lodged by actor Tanushree Dutta.
Hearing about the clean chit given by the Mumbai police, Dutta expressed disappointment and called the police and the legal system corrupt.
Sources said that the suburban Oshiwara police on Wednesday filed a ‘B Summary’ report before a metropolitan magistrate in Andheri. The report is basically filed when the police does not find any evidence against the accused to file a charge sheet and seek trial.
However, the magistrate court is yet to pass an order on the closure report and this happen only once it has heard the arguments from both the sides.
In a statement issued by Dutta, she lashed out at the system. Her lawyer said they will oppose the report and move the High Court if required.
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“A corrupt police force and legal system giving a clean chit to an even more corrupt person Nana who has been accused even in the past of bullying, intimidation and harassment by several women in the film industry,” the actor said.
Actor Nana Patekar has denied the allegations against him.
“Our witnesses have been silenced by intimidation, and fake witnesses have been put forth to weaken the case. What was the rush to file a ‘B summary’ report when all of my witnesses have not even recorded their statements yet?” she asked
“I’m neither shocked nor surprised, being a woman in India this is something we all have got used to. If rape accused Alok Nath got a clean chit and returned to movies, then surely it was not going to be difficult for harassment accused Nana Patekar to get himself, or shall we say buy himself, a clean chit to continue to bully hapless young women,” she said.
She said despite a 10-year-old video of her being attacked in full public view, justice was not being delivered.
“…But the proof is often in the pudding and a gentle reminder to the Indian public to watch the video of my car being mercilessly attacked and broken while I and my family tried to escape from these monsters on ‘Horn ok Pleasss’ set 10 years ago.
“After this, if you still decide to watch their movies and support then it’s your bad karma. You are corrupt people with no justice, but God’s justice will rain on you someday hopefully and will avenge for all the humiliation, insult, harassment, judgment and trauma I have had to endure in the last 10+ years because of this attitude,” she said.
She also added that the “clean chit” given to Patekar should not deter women from sharing their #MeToo stories in public.
“Continue to expose these creeps through social media and other platforms so that in future people would think twice before troubling an innocent young girl. I still believe that I will get justice and victory will be mine!! How..only time will tell,” she concluded.