Rajkumar Hirani accused of sexual harassment, director denies charges
Monday, 14 January 2019 (14:14 IST)
New Delhi: Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, recently alleged of sexual assault by a woman who worked with him in his film ‘Sanju’, issued a statement terming the allegation a false, malicious and mischievous story, being spread with the sole intention of destroying his reputation.
In a statement issued to the media, Hirani said, ‘I was completely shocked when these allegations were brought to my notice about two months back. I had suggested immediately that it is essential to take this matter to any committee or any legal body. The complainant has chosen to go to the media instead.’
‘I want to very strongly state that this is a false malicious and mischievous story being spread with the sole intention of destroying my reputation,’ Hirani said.
‘The woman alleged that Hirani sexually abused for her over a six-month period between March and September 2018,’ sources said.
‘The woman has revealed the incident in an email dated November 3, 2018 to Hirani’s ‘Sanju’ co-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra. She also marked the mail to Vidhu’s wife and film journalist Anupama Chopra as well as to Hirani’s co-writer Abhijat Joshi,’ the sources said.
‘The woman claimed that Hirani first made a sexually suggestive remark to her on April 9, 2018 and then sexually assaulted her at his home-cum-office,’ the sources added.
In the wake of the allegations, Hirani’s ‘Munna Bhai 3’ has been put on hold.
The ‘MeToo Movement’ had made the headlines in 2018 after the Nana Patekar-Tanushree Dutta controversy. (UNI)
