Days after Tanushree Dutta's allegations of sexual harassment against veteran actor Nana Patekar on Horn OK Pleassss sets resurfaced in her recent interviews, the Cine and TV Artists' Association (CINTAA) has accepted that the actress had filed a complaint with them in the year 2008, but it wasn't addressed back then. In an official statement that was issued, CINTAA has also apologised to the actress saying that they find it "highly regrettable and no apologies can suffice".
The association also stated, "...we appeal to the authorities to take cognisance of Ms Dutta's statements and conduct an impartial and speedy enquiry so that truth and justice may prevail. We also appeal to all our members to report any such incidents to us immediately. We are duty bound to give them our complete moral and legal support to ensure just and safe working conditions."
Here's what the full statement read:
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 & IFTPC (then known as AMPTPP) in July 2008 was not appropriate, as the chief grievance of sexual harassment wasn't even addressed.Although it was a different Executive Committee at that time, yet as CINTAA we find it highly regrettable and no apologies can suffice, hence we mut 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. Hence we appeal to the authorities to take cognisance of Ms Dutta's statements and conduct an impartial and speedy enquiry so that truth and justice may prevail. We also appeal to all our members to report any such incidents to us immediately. We are duty bound to give them our complete moral and legal support to ensure just and safe working conditions.
The official handle of CINTAA shared the statement on Twitter:
At the time of publishing, Tanushree hasn't responded to CINTAA's statement.
Those who're uninitiated, Tanushree Dutta, in her recent interviews, has once again spoken about the harassment she had to go through on the sets of Horn OK Pleassss where she was to shoot for a dance number.
The Aashiq Banaya Aapne actress alleged that Nana Patekar wanted to do intimate steps with her and insisted on teach her the choreography when he wasn't even required on the sets, since he was never supposed to be there in the said song. She has also accused the choreographer Ganesh Acharya of taking sides with the actor and supporting him.
