#MeToo : Vinod Dua Responds To Allegations, Says It Is Baseless And The Figment Of Someone's Imagination

The #MeToo movement that gained traction in India, has exposed some prominent names from various professional fields. The movement kicked off after former Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment, while they were shooting for a special song sequence for the 2008 film 'Horn Ok Pleassss'. 

Recently, veteran journalist and father of comedian Mallika Dua was accused of sexual harassment by filmmaker Nishtha Jain. Days after allegations against him, the journalist finally responded to it. On a show on The Wire, 'Jan Gan Man Ki Baat', which he hosts , he said that the allegation of sexually  harassing someone can be thrown at anyone, be it a pope, a judge, a lawyer, a priest, an innocent man or a doctor. He dismissed the allegations against him.He further said that nothing like this happened and that all the allegations are baseless and the  figment of someone’s imagination.

READ | 'This Is My Dad's Battle, I Will Let Him Fight It And I Will Stand By Him,' Says Mallika Dua Responding To Sexual Harassment Allegations On Her Father

Earlier, in an elaborate post on Facebook, the Nishtha Jain narrated her ordeal and claimed that Vinod Dua had sexually harassed her in June 1989. In her post she revealed that she met him for the first time, when he took her interview for a political satire show, he was to start. She wrote, "I was greeted with his typical sardonic smile. Before I could settle down he began telling a lewd sexual joke in that soft voice, barely opening his mouth. I don't remember the joke but it wasn't worth a laugh, just dirty. I felt hot in my face and I sat there most probably with an angry look. He explained the job and asked me what my expectations were and I quoted an amount that most graduates were getting at the time - 5,000 rupees. He looked at me and said, 'Tumhari aukat kya hai?' I don't know what had hit me. I was stunned. What was this about? I had faced sexual harassment early in life but this sort of humiliation was a new experience."

READ | #MeToo: Mallika Dua's Father Vinod Dua Accused Of Alleged Sexual Harassment

Several other renowned personalities including Vikas Bahl, Alok Nath, Subhash Ghai, Chetan Bhagat, Suhel Seth and Karim Morani among others, have been accused of alleged sexual harassment. These revelations have created a huge stir in the Hindi film industry and many Bollywood stars have spoken up against the offenders and extended their support to the assault survivors.