TV and Bollywood actor Alok Nath, who has been accused of rape and has been granted anticipatory bail, has surfaced from hiding to speak, albiet conditionally. "The honourable court and my lawyers have advised me to keep completely silent for now. In fact I've been quiet throughout. Maybe, some words escaped my mouth in my state of angst. But otherwise I've been lying absolutely low for the last three months," Alok said.
"It is not right for me to make any comment at the moment. But yes, we (Alok and his team of lawyers) got anticipatory bail, and we're very grateful for that. Now, when I am in a position to speak I will have a heart-to-heart with you."
Alok did however expressed gratitude to his wife Ashu. "She has been a pillar of strength for me. I am grateful to God that in my journey she has been my co-traveller throughout. She has been with me always. And my truth is her truth, and that's God's truth. So I am grateful to God for that."
Alok says his next legal move would depend on the court order. "I cannot preempt anything right now. But one thing I can tell you. This battle will reach its logical conclusion, and the truth, whatever it is, will be revealed."
The City Civil and Sessions Court at Dindoshi here heard Alok's plea seeking protection from arrest following an FIR from the writer-director, who has claimed he raped her 19 years ago, said official sources. The victim had lodged the complaint with Oshiwara Police on October 17 last year after Alok hit back by filing a defamation case against her in a Mumbai Magistrate Court. Alok had denied all the allegations levelled by the victim and lodged the defamation case demanding Re.1 as damages and a written apology from her.
Known for his 'sanskaari' image on the big screen, Alok was expelled from the Cine & TV Artistes Association last year after the rape charges came to the fore. It was in October that the Tara producer shared her ordeal in a long Facebook post, amid the #MeToo movement wave that hit India.
(With IANS inputs)
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