#MeToo: Sonal Vengurlekar accuses photographer Raja Bajaj of sexual harassment; His daughter Sheena Bajaj REACTS!

The #MeToo movement in India gained momentum when Tanushree Dutta levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against veteran actor Nana Patekar. Since then, several women from different walks of life have come forward with their stories and have named the perpetrators on social media. TV actress Sonal Vengurlekar, who was last seen in Star Bharat’s ‘Saam Daam Dand Bhed’, has accused photographer and casting director Raja Bajaj of sexual harassment. The ‘Shastri Sisters’ actress, while sharing her tale of #MeToo, said that she was only 19 when Raja Bajaj tried to misbehave with her. Sonal, while talking to a leading daily, said that Raja made sexual advances to her in 2012 when she was just starting out in the industry. She alleged that Raja also tried to forcibly remove her clothes and claimed that he could teach her tantric vidya making her an overnight star. India's #MeToo moment: Bollywood finally speaks up for Tanushree Dutta "This was when I had started giving auditions and chanced upon an opportunity on a casting website. I called on the number mentioned on the site and was told by the person to come for an audition in Borivali. The man happened to be TV actress Sheena Bajaj's father, Raja Bajaj. I gave the audition, but couldn't deliver the dialogues well since I was untrained. He told me that I have a good face, but needed to have a better understanding of the profession and suggested that I assist him on a shoot," Sonal told Bombay Times. (Sonal Vengurlekar, source- Instagram) Sonal further said that Raja asked her to try a couple of outfits, making her wonder about the reason behind the same. She alleged that Raja applied a cream on her breasts forcibly, making her scare. " He had a bottle of cream in his hand and told me to apply it on my breasts before wearing those, as that would help in giving them a proper shape. Much to my horror, he came forward and applied the cream on my breasts forcibly. I got scared and ran away. What made the situation even scarier was that no one from my family was with me," the actress told BT. (Sonal Vengurlekar, source- Instagram) The ‘Yeh Vaada Raha’ actress even alleged that Raja asked her to remove all her clothes, claiming to know ‘tantrik vidya’. ‘’Aapko main tantrik vidya sikhaunga, jisse aap raaton raat superstar bann jaogi. You have to remove your clothes and sit naked in front of me and repeat the mantra I chant. I snubbed him and said that I didn't want to learn anything. He, then, stepped forward and tried to forcibly remove my clothes. I somehow managed to get out of the room and went straight to the model and her mother, who were in the adjoining room,’’ Sonal told the daily. Sonal has said that she had filed a complaint against Raja at Kasturba Marg police station back then. #MeToo Movement: Anu Malik STEPS DOWN as JUDGE from Indian Idol 10 Sheena Bajaj, who is Raja Bajaj’s daughter, has squashed all the allegations made against her father by Sonal. The ‘Best of Luck Nikki’ actress, while talking to daily, said that Sonal is blackmailing her father for money. (Source- Instagram)

‘’She was someone who at that time had just entered the industry to pursue her career and earn money. If my Dad has done something wrong, then she should have gone to the police and complained about that first, rather than calling my mother and narrating the entire incident to her. She first demanded 5 Lakhs and then reduced the amount," Sheena told Mumbai Mirror.

(Raja Bajaj with daughter Sheena Bajaj, source- Instagram)

"My point is that if something wrong happened to you, why will you demand money. Then she asked for 3 Lakh and then claimed 1.5 Lakh. And when Dad refused to give money and told her to complain, she then went to the police station. Still, she is asking for money and telling us that she will withdraw the case if we give her money," the ‘Mariam Khan-Reporting Live’ actress further told the daily.

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