An actress, who was part of Taarak Mehta ka Oolta Chashmah, has accused the television show's producer Asit Kumarr Modi and two others of sexual harassment, according to reports. Denying the allegations Modi said the actress was let go from the show due to 'misbehaviour', and added that he will take legal action against her for trying to defame him.
The Mumbai Police stated that she lodged a complaint, but an FIR is yet to be registered. “We have started an inquiry and soon the statements of some of the people will be recorded,” cops told ANI on Friday. According to a report by NDTV, the actress sent a formal letter to the concerned authorities, including the National Commission for Women (NCW) and Mumbai Police on April 8, accusing Modi, project head Sohail Ramani and executive producer Jatin Bajaj of sexual harassment.
"He (Modi) would pass uncharitable comments but I ignored them. In March 2019, in Singapore, he said many things like, Come to my room, let's have whisky'", she alleged. "I kept quiet but shared these things with two of my colleagues. They would often shield me. They are still working on the show, so they can't do much," the actor told PTI.
In a media statement, Ramani and Bajaj denied the allegations, claiming the actress regularly misbehaved with the entire team of the show. "We had to terminate her contract because of her bad behaviour and indiscipline during the shoot. During this incident, Asit ji was in the US. She is now trying to defame us and the show by making baseless allegations,” they said.
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, which started airing in 2008, is one of the longest-running sitcoms in Indian television history. It also features popular actors Dilip Joshi, Munmun Dutta and Mandar Chandwadkar.
-with agency inputs
