New Delhi: A case was registered against veteran actor Nana Patekar and three others for allegedly molesting Tanushree Dutta on the sets of a movie, police said on Wednesday.The Bollywood actor had accused actor Patekar of sexually harassing her on the sets of the film in 2008, an official said.Following the actor’s complaint the case was registered at Oshiwara Police Station against Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, producer Samee Siddhiqui and director of the movie, Rakesh Sarang, he said.“We have registered a case against Patekar and others under section 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 IPC,” additional commissioner of police (west region) Manojkumar Sharma told PTI.As of now, no arrest has been made, he said. “We are investigating the case and enquiries are on with this regard,” he said.Earlier in the evening, the actor had reached the Oshiwara Police Station to record her statement regarding the case, another official said. According to Dutta’s advocate, Nitin Satpute said that a similar complaint had been filed by the actor back in 2008 as well.In a letter, Dutta said that she lodged her complaint for the registration of FIR under Sections 354, 354 (A), Section 34 and Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).She further said before shooting the song on the sets of the film Horn Ok Pleasss, which was supposed to be a solo song picturised only on her, she had clearly mentioned that she will not enact or perform any lewd, vulgar or uncomfortable steps.Also read: Dark Underbelly of Indian Media Revealed as Scores of Journalists Say #MeTooHowever, on the fourth day of the shoot, Patekar’s behaviour was inappropriate as he was grabbing her by the arms and pushing her around on the pretext of teaching her some steps, the complaint said. “When he was touching me indecently and unnecessary I felt very uncomfortable because of his behaviour, I felt he has outraged my modesty,” the letter read.Dutta even complained to the choreographer, producer and director hoping some action would be taken and everything would be fine. But to her surprise, new steps were introduced by Acharya, which were intimate and included Patekar touching her inappropriately, she alleged.The actor said she was being forced and pressurised to do the steps but after she refused, the producer threatened to defame her. Everyone was taking Patekar’s side, she said.She then called her parents and manager, who questioned Patekar’s actions. However, the producer refused to budge and Dutta had no choice but to leave the studio, the complaint said.Also read: Why I Believe Tanushree Dutta and Dr Christine Blasey FordOn the way out, her car was attacked but with the help of the police she managed to escape from the spot, it added. We were then taken to the police station and my statement was recorded but not as per the complaint. Many parts of my complaint were deleted, omitted and avoided, she alleged.She also lodged a complaint with the Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA) in March 2008. Recently, Dutta received an apology from CINTAA for not taking timely action after she filed a complaint. However, Nana Patekar and Vivek Agnihotri, who has also been accused of harassment by her, have filed defamation cases against Dutta.After recording the statement, the police registered the offence late midnight, he said.(With inputs from PTI)
