In #MeToo case against Vikas Bahl, alleged victim tells court she doesn’t want to pursue matter further

By Nishat Shamsi

on October 19, 2018

In a major plot twist, the woman who had levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Vikas Bahl told the Bombay High Court on Friday that she doesn’t intend to pursue the case against the filmmaker any further.

“I have had enough and I am still suffering at the hands of this man even after three years. I do not want to be involved in litigation, so will not file an affidavit. Will only put out a statement,” the woman told the court.

[caption id="attachment_147480" align="aligncenter" width="875"] A file photo of Vikas Bahl.[/caption]

The court was hearing the Rs 10 crore defamation suit that has been filed by Vikas against his former Phantom Films partners Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane amid the #MeToo furore.

The court, in fact, had posted the matter to Friday so that the alleged victim’s side of the story can also be heard in the chamber. "The movement is for victims. Not anybody else. It should not be misused. These are sensitive matters. There have to be guidelines," Justice SJ Kathawalla said today while hearing the victim, adding that a committee comprising men and women should be set up to look into it.

[caption id="attachment_148163" align="aligncenter" width="647"] File photos of Anurag, Vikas and Vikramaditya.[/caption]

The court, in an indirect manner, also reprimanded Kashyap and Motwane for dissolving Phantom Films on the basis of the victim’s complaint. “Others cannot fire from her (victim) shoulder. This #MeToo⁠ ⁠ movement cannot be misused,” the court said.

Vikas was accused of sexual harassment by the woman, a former employee of the film collective Phantom Films, for an incident that took place in 2015 in Goa during the promotion of the banner’s movie Bombay Velvet.

The allegation resurfaced as the #MeToo movement garnered steam in India, leading some others, including Queen actress Kangana Ranaut, to point fingers at Vikas’ behaviour towards women.

Kashyap came out in support of the allegations in a report and also tweeted about it, while Motwane called Vikas a “sexual offender”. Vikas has said the defendants are “taking advantage of the ongoing #MeToo movement in the country”.