'This is not over': Sona Mohapatra on NCW closing case against Anu Malik

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has closed the sexual harassment case against music composer Anu Malik. According to reports, the NCW has closed the case “due to lack of communication/substantial evidence sought from the complainant”.

Anu Malik had faces allegations of sexual harassment from singers like Sona Mohapatra and Shweta Pandit. As the controversy gathered storm, he was forced to step down as judge of the music reality show Indian Idol, on Sony TV. He always dismissed the allegations as 'false'.

According to Mumbai Mirror, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said: “Responding to a complaint, we wrote to the complainant. She said she was travelling and whenever she returns, she will visit us. We waited for around 45 days. We had also asked for some documents, but after that she never responded. The complainant had informed us that there are more women who have complaints against Anu Malik and we told her that they can also file a complaint with us but none of them have responded yet. This is not a permanent closure of the case. If the complainant comes forward or brings more evidence or submits any kind of document, we can reopen it.”

Mohapatra, who has been a strong crusader of the MeToo movement, took to Twitter to slam the commission and Sony TV. In a long post, she wrote that the statement of the NCW chairperson about lack of communication was false. “I collated multiple testimonies painstakingly and mailed it to them within a few days of them asking for it.”

“What more documents can you provide in cases of sexual harassment and assault?,” she asked. She also slammed Sony TV for using this for their own benefits. “Sony TV was a partner in crime by riding on this for publicity for their show as a marketing theme. India will not forgive them or Anu Malik and his supporters this easily,” she wrote.