Nana Patekar has been cleared of all sexual harassment charges, as accused by Tanushree Dutta, which made way for the #MeToo movement in India.
In the official report, the police said they could not find evidence to support the complaint and were “unable to continue the investigation,” according to an Indian news agency.
Tanushree Dutta has slammed the police in a long statement where she also took a shot at actor Alok Nath, a rape-accused.
“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,” she said.
Dutta claimed their witnesses were silenced and “fake witnesses” were put forth to weaken the case.
Making a dig at Alok Nath, she said:
“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 concluded by saying that she still believes she will get justice.
Her lawyer Nitin Satpute said they will file a petition before the Bombay High Court in this matter.
Satpute accused the police of conducting a shoddy probe, not recording the statements of many other witnesses, but relying on the evidence of only “one or two” witnesses in order to protect the accused.
He also claimed the police “acted negligently to protect Nana Patekar.”
Tanushree accused Nana Patekar and team Horn Ok Pleasss of harassment.
According to Tanushree’s account, in 2008, she opted out of the song after Nana Patekar and choreographer Ganesh Acharya pressurised her to do an intimate scene with Nana, which was not initially a part of her contract.
When the actress walked out of the project, she was cornered and her car was attacked while she tried to leave the premises with her family.
The actress had then filed a complaint with CINTAA, which went unnoticed. She subsequently quit Bollywood.
The actress started #MeTooIndia movement in a way with her complaint.
Further updates to follow.
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