Me Too Movement: Woman who accused Vikas Bahl files statement, says won't pursue case

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The woman who had complained about sexual harassment against director Vikas Bahl, in a statement filed through her lawyer, told the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that she doesn’t want to approach the police, because she has no faith in the police machinery. After she stated that she does not want to pursue the case, the court asked the lawyer for Phantom Films, directors Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, if the case can be pursued by the proxy of the victim in the case.

Justice S J Kathawalla was hearing a petition filed by Bahl, seeking Rs 10 crore in damages from his former partners in Phantom Films, directors Motwane and Kashyap, and three media organisations for alleged defamation. Bahl also sought interim relief restraining them and others, including two media houses, from posting, publishing and republishing the allegedly defamatory articles against him.

Senior Counsel for the woman, Navroz Seervai, submitted a statement in a sealed envelope, signed by the woman, in which she said she did not want to pursue the matter and that she wished to be dropped from the case. Seervai said the woman stood by her statement to Huffington Post. Seervai added: “She wants to walk away, put everything behind her and resume her normal life. In the statement, the woman has also said that the reason she has not made any police complaint is because such complaints further lead to victimisation of the sexual assault survivors”.

Arguing for Bahl, Senior Counsel Janak Dwarkadas said if the woman doesn’t file an affidavit, instead she makes a statement that she doesn’t to pursue the case, “How is the court supposed to make a decision in such case?”

Dwarkadas said the allegations are raised to settle scores. The victim is also aware of it and between all this, Bahl’s reputation has been tarnished for the woman who doesn’t even want to take legal recourse. Dwarkadas said: “I (Bahl) will have no opportunity to clear my name, looking at the stand of the woman”.

Senior Counsel for Kashyap and Motwane, Venkatesh Dhond, told the court that apart from the woman, actress Kangana Ranaut and many others have claimed that Bahl is known for his misbehaviour after getting drunk. Both Kashyap and Motwane were present in court on Tuesday. The court will continue to hear arguments for interim relief on Thursday.