What after #MeToo? mid-day gathers an update on harassment cases

After Bollywood actress Tanushree Duttas sexual harassment allegation against actor Nana Patekar several survivors followed in her footsteps and shamed their molesters on social media The four cases that remained the focus of the MeToo campaign were those in which the survivors reached out to the police and registered an FIR Dattas filmmaker Vinta Nandas rape case against actor Alok Nath actor Kritika Sharmas case against casting director Vicky Sidana and model Kate Sharmas case against director Subhash Ghai which she withdrew in November 2018The three cases seem to have reached a dead end and the cops are helpless without any witnesses or circumstantial evidence to take the case further Heres an update on everything thats happened so farTanushree Dutta v Nana PatekarThe case In September last year Dutta alleged that Nana Patekar misbehaved with her on the set of Horn Ok Pleassss in 2008 while shooting for a special dance number A case was registered against Patekar and three others at Oshiwara police station which include choreographer Ganesh Acharya producer Samee Siddique and director Rakesh Sarang under sections 354 assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty and 509 word gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman of the IPCThe investigation According to sources Oshiwara police have recorded the statements of more than 12 witnesses including actress Daisy Shah but none support Duttas version of eventsStatus The investigation is in process and at a very crucial stage said an officer on the condition of anonymityLawyer speaks At a press meet Duttas lawyer Nitin Satpute said The cops are only recording the statements of those favouring Nana Patekar There are four witnesses who know the truth but their statements are yet to be recorded I am going to release an audio clip of one of the witnesses soon to prove how they are being pressured by Nana and his people Satpute has also demanded a narco test of the witnessesKritika Sharma v Vicky SidanaThe case Five years ago actor Kritika Sharma had met casting director Vicky Sidana for an audition and he attempted to rape herThe investigation According to sources Sidana told the police at Versova station that He didnt remember when he met Kritika in the first place Being a casting director many women meet him to try their luck in the industry He has denied all allegations levelled by the actressThere are no witnesses to support her allegations However Sharma told the police that she had told two of her friends in 2013 The cops tried to reach her friends but none have come forward with a statementSurvivors comment There are no updates from the police since the FIR was registered When I was called for the spot verification I reached there and waited for an hour Then my lawyer called the officer who said she was unavailable at the time Since then nothing has happenedLawyer speaks Advocate Aashutosh Srivastava said We still expect a serious investigation and filing of the charge sheet against the accused in accordance with lawAlso ReadAlok Nath gets sixmonth noncooperation directive by FWICEVinta Nanda v Alok NathThe case Vinta Nanda accused Alok Nath of rape during the shoot of the TV serial Tara in the 1990s in which Nath played the lead role On October 8 last year the screenwriter shared her experience on social media She later filed a complaint with the Oshiwara police in MumbaiAlso ReadWitness statements dont support Tanushree Duttas sexual harassment story says Mumbai copsNath was booked in November under section 376 punishment for rape of the IPC Nath filed a counter defamation suit against Nanda in which he sought a written apology along with a compensation of 1 and a restraining order Nath was expelled by CINTAA for not showing up before the executive committee in October In January this year the sessions court granted him relief from arrest The rape case against Alok Nath was lodged on the basis of a defamatory and false report of complainant Vinta Nanda the sessions court observed while granting a prearrest bail to the Bollywood actor on a surety bond of 5 lakh Additional sessions court judge SS Oza said the rape complaint filed by the screenwriter was a personal vendetta It is to be noted that the complainant remembers the entire incident but does not remember the date and month of the incident In view of these facts the possibility cannot be ruled out that the applicant has falsely been enrolled in the crime the judge saidThe investigation The Oshiwara police only have the survivors statement In such cases the medical report plays an important role to make a waterright case but thats not possible because the incident was reported 20 years later said a senior officer on the condition of anonymity We do not have any circumstantial evidence in the matter Status The case is currently being investigatedLawyer speaks Vintas lawyer Dhruti Kapadia says I represented Vinta and I can see that her case has encouraged a lot of women who have been survivors to come forward and speak up about it As far as her case its now for the state and police to do what they ought to The MeToo movement wont die I encourage even men to come forward and speak up if they are sexually abused It is for both men and womenAlso ReadTanushree Duttas lawyer Cops speaking to those who know nothingCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates