Cine And TV Artists’ Association on Tuesday issued a rare apology to actor Tanushree Dutta for not handling her complaint of sexual harassment 10 years ago.
In a statement issued by CINTAA, the artists’ body admitted lapses in handling her complaint on sexual harassment by the previous management. News agency quoted the statement from CINTAA as saying, “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 and IFTPC (then known as AMPTPP) in July 2008 was not appropriate, as the chief grievance of sexual harassment wasn’t even addressed,” the statement by CINTAA read. The association, also made it clear that it “strongly condemns any act that outrages the modesty of any individual and any form of sexual harassment is unacceptable to us.”
The statement further added admitted that even though Tanushree’s complaint was handled by the previous management, the current authorities at the CINTAA strongly condemned what allegedly happened to her. The body, however, said it simply could not reopen the old case as its guidelines did not allow such process.
Its statement termed the treatment meted out to Tanushree ‘highly regrettable’ adding that ‘no apologies can suffice.’ “Hence we must resolve today to never allow such lapses to occur again. CINTAA stands strongly for the dignity and self-respect of its members. Sexual harassment is a serious criminal offence; unfortunately CINTAA’s Constitution bars us from taking up any case which is more than three years old,” the statement from CINTAA read.
Tanushree had alleged that 10 years ago, Nana Patekar had sexually harassed her. She was subjected to physical attack by the MNS goons, allegedly hired by Patekar and the film producer when she refused to oblige the indecent advancement on the sets of Horn OK Pleassss. Tanushree, a former beauty pageant, had said that she quit Bollywood because of that experience.
On Monday, she had lashed out at Shahid Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Rajinikanth, calling them ‘soulless and conscience-less’ for continuing to work with choreographer Ganesh Acharya and Nana Patekar.
The statement by CINTAA will significantly weaken Patekar’s case since the veteran actor had threatened to send Tanushree a legal notice on Monday.
