In a surprising development, the Mumbai Police have filed a closure report in the alleged #MeToo sexual harassment case lodged by actress Tanushree Dutta against actor Nana Patekar, a top official said here on Thursday.
"Yes, we have filed a B-Summary Report before the court," Mumbai Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner of Police Manjunath Shinge told IANS.
The police move comes after they reportedly did not find enough evidence in the matter, virtually ending the case as they cannot continue further investigations.
Dutta's lawyer Nitin Satpute said that they would challenge the police move in the matter.
"If the police file any B or C classification of Summary Report, that cannot be final. We shall oppose it before the court. After hearing, if the court is satisfied, then it can again direct the police to re-investigate," Satpute told IANS.
He accused the police of conducting a shoddy probe into the entire matter, not recording the statements of many other witnesses, but relying on the evidence of only "one or two" witnesses in a bid to protect the accused.
"In view of this, we shall oppose the B Summary Report and also file a writ petition before Bombay High Court," Satpute added.
Dutta had lodged the complaint against Patekar in September 2018 accusing him of allegedly sexually harassing her over a decade ago, in 2008 during a shoot, but he (Patekar) had stoutly denied the charges levelled by her.
The actress on Thursday said in a statement: "Our witnesses have been silenced by intimidation and fake witnesses have been put forth to weaken the case. What was the rush to file a B Summary report when all of my witnesses have not even recorded their statements yet? I'm neither shocked nor surprised being a woman in India this is something we all have got used to."
Read Tanushree Dutta's full statement here:
"A corrupt police force and legal system giving a clean chit to an even more corrupt person Nana who has been accused even in the past of bullying, intimidation and harassment by several women in the film Industry. Our witnesses have been silenced by intimidation and fake witnesses have been put forth to weaken the case.
What was the rush to file a B summary report when all of my witnesses have not even recorded their statements yet? I'm neither shocked nor surprised; being a woman in India this is something we all have got used to.
"If rape accused Alok Nath got a clean chit and returned to movies, then surely it was not going to be difficult for harrassment accused Nana Patekar to get himself or shall we say buy himself a clean chit to continue to bully hapless young women.
"But the proof is often in the pudding and a gentle reminder to the Indian public to watch the video of my car being mercilessly attacked and broken while me and my family tried to escape from these monsters on Horn OK Pleassss set 10 years ago.
After this, if you still decide to watch their movies and support then it's your bad karma. You are a corrupt people with no justice but God's justice will rain on you someday hopefully and will avenge for all the humiliation, insult, harrassment, judgement and trauma I have had to endure in the last 10+ years because of this attitude. That is my hope finally for a life without hope is like a candle without fire.
"I pray that I never have to deal with this kind of toxicity ever again in life. I'm tired of fighting alone against oppressors, bullies and a corrupt system. I have better things to do in life with my talent and skill set and I need to focus on those but please don't take this example to mean that you will not be heard when you speak up! Continue to expose these creeps through social media and other platforms so that in future, people would think twice before troubling an innocent young girl.
"I still believe by the way that I will get justice and victory will be mine!! How, only time will tell - Tanushree Dutta"