Tanushree’s allegations baseless, CINTAA should ignore decade-old accusation: Nana Patekar
Nana Patekar called Tanushree Dutta’s allegations ‘motivated and malicious’ in a reply to Cine and TV Artists’ Association (CINTAA) [Picture Courtesy: NewsRnd]
In a reply to Cine and TV Artists’ Association (CINTAA), Patekar claimed that Dutta had not made any accusations against him in 2008, when the alleged incident transpired.
The veteran actor, through his lawyer Aniket Nikam, sent his reply earlier this week after CINTAA issued a notice to him following a complaint filed by Dutta.
The actress alleged that Patekar misbehaved with her during the shooting of a song for the film “Horn Ok Pleaseee” in 2008.
Further, when she refused to shoot for the song, Patekar and the film’s producer summoned goons to the set who threatened her and damaged her car, she alleged.
“My client (Patekar) denies in toto (completely) the baseless and unsubstantiated allegations, insinuation levelled by Dutta,” the reply said.
Patekar has been subjected to mental harassment due to the “motivated and malicious” vilification campaign, it said.
“Neither he (Patekar) outraged much less misbehaved with Dutta during the shooting of the said song nor did he interfere with anyone during the shooting,” the reply said.
Patekar is a senior actor who has not only won several national awards but is also known for his philanthropic work, the reply highlighted.
“The false allegations have immensely affected his reputation beyond repair and your organisation (CINTAA) should not entertain such groundless accusations particularly when such allegations are levelled after almost a decade,” it said.
In 2008, Dutta had only said that she had asked choreographer Ganesh Acharya to change some steps which he did not agree to, but she did not make any allegation against Patekar then, the reply claimed.
Patekar was in the process of taking “appropriate legal measures against Dutta for defaming him”, it added.
Dutta had filed a complaint with CINTAA after the alleged incident in 2008, but no action was taken.
She spoke up about the incident recently as the #MeToo campaign caught on in the country. A few days later, she lodged a criminal case against Patekar and others and sent a fresh letter to CINTAA, which issued a notice to Patekar.
Following her complaint, Oshiwara police booked Patekar and three others under IPC section 354 (outraging modesty of a woman by applying criminal force).
With agency inputs
