Mumbai: The Oshiwara police on Thursday morning registered an FIR against actor Nana Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, producer Samee Siddiqui, and director Rakesh Sarang, based on a complaint by actor Tanushree Dutta in connection with the alleged sexual harassment on the sets of a movie in 2008.
Ms. Dutta and her lawyer Nitin Satpute visited the police station around 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The police, over the next three hours, recorded a detailed statement from Ms. Dutta regarding the incident, and the aftermath, which included alleged vandalism of her car by people shouting slogans of the Maharashta Navnirman Sena.
“We have registered an FIR based on Ms. Dutta’s statement, which, according to her, occurred on March 26, 2008, at Filmistan studio in Goregaon. The offence of outraging a woman’s modesty has been registered against the four named by the complainant,” Mumbai Police spokesperson DCP Manjunath Singe said.
Mr. Satpute said, “Now that the FIR has been registered, we expect speedy arrests in the case.”
On Thursday afternoon, a group of around 60 women staged a protest outside the police station, raising slogans against Mr. Patekar and demanding that he be arrested immediately.
Ms. Dutta has alleged that Mr. Patekar, on the sets of Horn OK Pleasss , had touched her inappropriately on the pretext of showing her dance steps, and also insisted on starring in the song sequence, which was supposed to be a solo performance. Sources said Mr. Patekar, Mr. Acharya, Mr. Sarang, and Mr. Siddiqui will soon be called for inquiries and to record their statements. The police are also getting in touch with other members of the cast and crew present on the day of the incident to cross-check the versions presented by Ms. Dutta and the accused.
“Future course of action will be decided after inquiries with all the parties are complete,” an officer who is part of the investigation said.
