Senior joint secretary of CINTAA urges Nana Patekar and Tanushree Dutta to file fresh cases
Tanushree Dutta had in 2008 complained to the Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA) about being sexual harassed by Nana Patekar during the shooting of a song sequence in Horn Ok Pleassss. But her plea went unheard. Now, after her case has resurfaced after ten years, the association has issued a statement, condemning the incident and apologising for the fact that it cannot reopen the case after so many years. Now, after a day after CINTAA’s statement, Senior joint secretary of CINTAA Amit Behl has urged both – Tanushree Dutta and Nana Patekar to file fresh cases so that necessary action can be taken in the matter.
Speaking to Mid-Day, Amit Behl said, “Sushant's statement categorically states that what happened in 2008 was unfortunate because Tanushree's complaint of harassment was not addressed, only the monetary issues were taken care of. Tanushree and Nana, both are members of CINTAA, and until we hear both their sides, it won't be fair on our part to take a firm stand. We can't do anything until they approach us. We're willing to hear both sides of the story,"
Behl added that should the two actors file a fresh appeal, the organisation will do everything in its capacity to ensure that justice prevails. "If Tanushree files a fresh complaint, we will follow the necessary mechanism where both parties can put forth their grievances against each other. We need both of them to come face-to-face on a joint dispute committee meeting."
As much as he would like to extend his support in the matter, Behl also hints that CINTAA has limited power. "We are a trade union working for our members and we would like to give [each one of them] a just stance. We are not the police, neither are we the court of law. We can help the person who is right so that they can take a course of action."
Here is the earlier statement issued by CINTAA on Tanushree Dutta’s case against Nana Patekar:
“CINTAA strongly condemns any act that outrages the modesty of any individual and any form of sexual harassment is unacceptable to us. After going through Ms Tanushree Dutta’s complaint, which was filed with the then Executive Committee of CINTAA in March 2008, we feel that the decision taken in the Joint Dispute Settlement Committee of CINTAA & IFTPC (then known as AMPTPP) in July 2008 was not appropriate, as the chief grievance of sexual harassment wasn’t even addressed.
