Music composer Anu Malik is the latest celebrity whose name has come up in the #MeToo movement. Singer Shweta Pandit came forward to allege that the music director has sexually harassed her. However, Malik’s lawyer issued a statement on Thursday calling the singer’s allegations “false and baseless” and lyricist Sameer Anjaan also came forward lending support to Malik. However, two new survivors have come forward and told their ordeal to a leading daily wishing to remain anonymous. They also came forward to support Pandit and Sona Mohapatra who also levied allegations against the singer.
The leading daily reported the horrifying ordeals of the two survivors. The first survivor who was a then-aspiring singer recalled that she had met Malik in 1990 at Mehboob Studios where he was recording a song. She states that during the meeting, Malik “rubbed his body against me” and offered a weak apology when she was stunned by his advances. Later, when she found herself coordinating for a fundraiser with him, the events took an ugly turn.
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Sona Mohapatra[/caption]
She told the daily, “My friend and I went to Neha Apartments (Malik's house) in Juhu, upon his request to discuss the fundraiser. He introduced us to his wife and daughter Anmol, who was around eight months old. A few days later, he called me over to his house again for another meeting. Since my friend was not in the city, I went alone. After we had an informal chat in his music room, he moved the conversation to the lounge. Once there, he sat next to me on the sofa. I realized I was trapped as his family was not at home. He then lifted my skirt and dropped his pants. I thought of pushing him and rushing out the door, but he was too strong for me. Luckily, the doorbell rang at that moment.”
She further added, “Irritated, he told me to stay put and went to answer the door. In the seconds that he dealt with the delivery boy, I tried to leave. But he caught hold of me in the narrow passage. He apologised stating that he was a 'passionate' guy, and offered to drop me at my residence. He also dissuaded me from telling anyone, saying that no one would believe me as he was Anu Malik and I was a nobody. He also threatened to 'know people' if I went to the police station. Having moved to the city only three years ago, I had little idea of Bombay roads. It was around 8.30 pm when he drove into a dark, empty maidan. Scared, I asked him where we were. But he simply unzipped his pants and asked me to lick him! I told him no and urged him to let me go, but he pulled me by my hair and stuffed my face in his lap, hurling abuses as he did so. Thankfully, a security guard tapped on the window at that moment. As he spoke to the guard, I unlocked my door and ran for my life."
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Shweta Pandit[/caption]
Another survivor who alleged that Malik harassed her recounted her shocking experience. She said that she was approached to participate in the ongoing Indian Idol 10 as a wild card entry. She told the daily, “I refused the offer because Anu Malik (one of the judges) has already damaged my career. I told them that I will not be judged by the talentless hack," says the survivor, who accuses Malik of having sexually harassed her, seven years ago.”
She recalled that Malik was one of the several music composers she met during her struggling years as a singer. Her first meeting went smoothly but her second scarred her for life because of what happened at Sahara Studios, Goregaon. She said, “He asked me if I had a boyfriend. When I said 'no', he said, 'Oh, so you don't even have anyone to hold you, you must be so lonely.' The comment was uncalled for. He then went on to say, 'You should wear a chiffon sari next time you meet me.' At this point, I knew it was time to leave. As I got up, he grabbed me and hugged me, all the while running his hands over my body. Panic struck me as I realized the recording studio was sound-proof and no one would hear me even if I screamed. I pushed him away and said, 'What do you think you're doing?' The sick pervert immediately broke into his presumably rehearsed line: 'No, I am happy with my wife, I am a sensitive man!' I rushed out and was relieved to be out on the road and safe again. When I told a friend, who is a successful singer's daughter, about the incident, she said, 'Anu Mama strikes again.'"
These allegations are pretty grave and if proven true then might have an adverse effect on Malik and his music career. However, he is yet to respond to these new allegations.
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