Tanushree Dutta receives legal notices from Nana Patekar and Vivek Agnihotri

"This is the price you pay for speaking out against harassment in India," said the actor

04 Oct, 2018

Tanushree Dutta has received two legal notices in response to her sexual harassment claims against her Horn Ok Pleassss co-star Nana Patekar and Chocolate director Vivek Agnihotri.

Dutta said in a statement “I have been slapped with two legal notices today. One from Nana Patekar and another from Vivek Agnihotri. This is the price you pay for speaking out against harassment, humiliation and injustice in India.”

The actor had also accused Agnihotri of misbehaving with her on the set of film Chocolate (2005). Reportedly, she is being targeted by both men.

"Both Nana and Vivek Agnihotri’s teams are on a smear campaign against me by constructing outright lies and misinformation on social media platforms and other public platforms. Their supporters are coming ahead and weaving damming allegations against me even shouting at the top of their voices at press conferences.”

However, Agnihotri issued a statement calling her claims 'false, frivolous, vexatious.'

The actor added that two men even tried to break into her house. “Today while I was at home and the police personnel posted outside my home were on a lunch break, two suspicious individuals tried getting into our home uninvited but were stopped just in time by security personnel in the building.”

“Later the police came back from their break and secured the premises again. Violent threats are being issued against me by the MNS party. I’m being threatened to be dragged into the court and legal system of India which we all know can keep a woman and her supporters as well as media silent on the pretext of “matter subjudice” but can also further be used to harass her and drain her out financially.”

She also called out India's justice system.

“‘Tareek pe Tareek pe tareek’ and the dawn of justice never arrives and her whole life goes waste awaiting justice while witnesses are intimidated, discredited or simply drained of their will to stand up. False witnesses supporting perpetrators conjured up to further weaken her case. Court cases can run for decades without a hope for a conclusion. At the end, an empty shell remains, broken hopes. A life wasted, defeated. This is the age-old saga of survivors in our nation. I walked away once from the same environment that was created for me 10 years ago.”

“Found God, found my healing, found my peace and a new life in the United States of America. And now I stand to lose this new life too if I allow myself to get embroiled in the court system of India. And you wanted to know why the MeToo movement hasn’t happened in India…This is why…”

Dutta has received support from celebs in Bollywood after she came out with her MeToo story.

Comments

Alba Oct 04, 2018 02:49pm

I guess she didn't want to sacrifice. That was not part of the deal. When accusing someone we need the facts ready. My word against yours does not play out in court.

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PC Oct 04, 2018 02:50pm

Brave girl , waiting to see if Salman gets exposed by somebody.

Karachi Wala Oct 04, 2018 03:20pm

I wonder why these celebrities dont go to the court and rather rely on tweets. Is it that they dont have a proof which can stand court trial? or is it to connect their name with a more famous person to get publicity?

Nasir Oct 04, 2018 03:56pm

What was she expecting that they would be put behind bars because she said that she was harassed by them? Madam you should be ready with proof when you accuses someone

Faisal Ahmed Oct 04, 2018 04:44pm

This is ridiculous, now an innocent, pious, strong character woman need to face the court?? If this happens people will stop telling the truth.

Changez Khan Oct 04, 2018 05:38pm

If Dutta is right then she has nothing to worry, go in court and prove yourself (will be very hard to present evidence) but if she is wrong (which I think she is) then she must pay the price.

Hyman Oct 04, 2018 05:49pm

And how do i know if u are on the right side ? U cannot just blame and shame somebody and not stand up in court of justice. Either prove yourselves or take ur accusations back..

GLY Mendon Oct 04, 2018 07:10pm

Tanushree rightly or wrongly accused somebody. So they have the right to defend. Most of the Indians are believing her. But we cant just accuse and runaway, she has to fight to prove that her allegations are correct. Film Industry whether it is Hollywood or Bollywood is a very complex arena to work in. Cant know what is truth or what is false till some proof comes up. Till then it is 1-1.

Ahmad Gul Kainth Oct 04, 2018 07:27pm

So she has a right to accuse but accuser has no right to ask her to prove. What a farce she has made!!!

Chango Oct 05, 2018 12:48am

Sigh. It’s a patriarchal society still. As long as men believe they can get away with it there is no relief for women. We have a serial offender in USA as president. It’s galling that there are women supporting him. There has to be a change coming from younger generation. I am not young anymore but I despair that there are some young people still supporting these predators.

K. Oct 05, 2018 09:07am

@Karachi Wala Wat you are proposing is going to extreme ends - either go to the court or sit put at home. They have already ruined the prospects of her career in bollywood, why'd she want to let them ruin the peace of her personal life? Name and shame. And it's not even like Nana Patekar's scandalous behavior and misconduct with female colleagues is unheard of - other actresses are vouching for Dutta. High time we stop crying 'proof' every time a finger is raised at a public figure and that too a man. It is absolutely her right to speak against those who wronged her, going to the court or not is her choice. Just because the legal system is biased towards the accuser in countries like ours, doesn't mean victims of harassment should sit in silence all their lives if the system can't help.