No Evidence To Prosecute Nana Patekar In #MeToo Case: Mumbai Police

Mumbai: A closure report filed by the Mumbai Police into allegations of molestation against actor Nana Patekar has accused actress Tanushree Dutta of filing a “false case” after the film producer asked her to pay compensation for walking out of the film and cancelling the day’s shoot.

During the probe, the Mumbai police claimed to have found no evidence to support Dutta’s claims. Among the 13 witnesses, whose statements were recorded, was one Sanjeev Hawaladar, who had rehearsed Patekar’s steps with Dutta at a dance studio in Andheri (West) between March 14 and 20, the closure report said.

The investigation also revealed that Tanushree “intentionally” lodged a false case against the four men when Siddiqui told her that she would have to compensate for the losses caused.

On the other hand, Patekar claimed that he did not know how to dance and that it had taken him 25 to 30 attempts to get his steps right.

Nana also said he and Tanushree did not dance together and added that there was some space between them when the song was being shot.

Neither Daisy Shah, assistant choreographer for the song, nor any of the junior artistes, back-up dancers or camera crew told the police, in their statements, that they had seen Patekar touch Tanushree inappropriately.

Reacting on this, Tanushree expressed disappointment and said that the investigation was not properly done.

She spoke to a leading daily and expressed her dismay. She said, “At about 5 am, I got a call from a friend who told me about it. This is disgusting because Nana Patekar has been trying to get a clean chit for a while now. I have also mentioned this earlier in an interview that our witnesses have been getting threat calls, and they are being intimidated and pressured in every way so that they do not record their statements with the police. We have 10 witnesses, out of which only one and a half statements have been recorded. The others have not even come forward, as they have got threat calls. Cops say that there is lack of evidence. How will credible evidence be produced, if the accused is making sure that no evidence against him reaches the police? The witnesses that the police have recorded the statements (in his favour) from, are his friends. From the unite present during the time of the shoot back then, no one was really my friend. Also, the witnesses did not say nothing happened, they said, they don’t remember anything.”

“Disappointment happens when you are shocked about something. I didn’t have much expectation from the harassment case. I also think Nana Patekar is desperately trying to come back to Bollywood and now, he wants his name to be cleared somehow. My only hope of judgement now is from God. I will continue this fight,” she added.

Also Read: Jitendra Singh To Play Ayushmann Khurrana’s Lover In ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’