Artists’ body asks Dutta to file fresh complaint, assures action

In what could spell trouble for veteran actor Nana Patekar, the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) has asked actress Tanushree Dutta to file a fresh complaint. The regulatory body has said it will act against Patekar and the three other men, who allegedly ‘harassed’ Dutta on the sets of a film a decade ago.

The actress, who has spearheaded the #MeToo campaign in India, in an interview said Patekar had sexually abused her while she was shooting a song for ‘Horn Ok Pleassss’ film. She claimed that choreographer Ganesh Acharya, had changed the steps of the dance sequence at the last moment, allegedly upon the insistence of Patekar, allowing him to touch her ‘inappropriately.’

Soon after the incident, a traumatised Dutta had approached the CINTAA, seeking action against Patekar, Acharya, producer Samee Siddiqui and director Rakesh Sarang. However, the regulatory body did not act against any of them and instead, closed the matter.

With the campaign picking pace, the CINTAA seems to have changed its mind.

“Now we have received a call from the CINTAA, asking us to file a fresh complaint against Patekar and the other men. The body has assured my client it will act against Patekar and others, in consonance with her plaint,” said advocate Nitin Satpute, who is representing Dutta.

Actor Sushant Singh, general secretary, CINTAA, confirmed the development to The Free Press Journal. “We have asked Dutta to file a fresh complaint. We will look into the matter and then act,” Singh said.

“As of now, we will first have to decide if the association can probe the matter, as the police have already started investigations,” Singh said.

According to Satpute, his client will speak about the trauma she had to undergo because CINTAA closed her earlier complaint in 2008.

“The CINTAA closed the matter without investigating and without considering the allegations of sexual harassment,” Dutta has informed Oshiwara Police.