New Delhi: Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, best known for her portrayal of Roshan Sodhi in the popular TV series 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,' has been embroiled in a legal battle against the show's producer, Asit Kumar Modi, alleging sexual harassment in the workplace. The actress filed a sexual harassment case against Asit Kumar Modi, along with Sohil Ramani and Jatin Ramani last year. As per a report in ETimes, she has won the case and Asit Modi has been ordered to pay her outstanding dues and also Rs 5 lakh as compensation.
In a conversation with ETimes, Jennifer Mistry confirmed the news and expressed her mixed emotions regarding the outcome of the case. While she considers it a victory, she also voiced her disappointment with the final result.
Jennifer recounted her journey, stating, "I had filed a case of sexual harassment against the producer of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, who happens to be my former producer Asit Kumar Modi, operation head Sohil Ramani, and executive producer Jatin Bajaj. The verdict is in my favour, confirming the allegations I made with strong evidence. This outcome surpasses what the police achieved in the past year." She expressed gratitude for the verdict in her favor, which validated her allegations with strong evidence.
As per the court's decision, Asit Kumar Modi has been ordered to pay Jennifer her due amount, along with additional compensation for deliberately withholding her payment. Jennifer expressed disappointment that Sohil and Jatin were not included in the verdict.
Jennifer Mistry on the verdict
"Asit Kumar Modi has been ordered to pay me my due amount and additional compensation for deliberately withholding my payment, totaling around Rs 25-30 lakh. An extra Rs 5 lakh is imposed on Mr. Modi for harassment. The verdict was out on 15th Feb 2024, but I was asked not to share it in the media. However, I believe a woman's reputation matters most. It's been over 40 days, and I still haven't received my due amount, which I earned through hard work on the serial. Despite proving Mr. Modi guilty of sexual harassment, no punishment has been given to all three accused. Sohil and Jatin weren't included in the verdict, which disappoints me." she told ETimes.
"Mr. Modi was found guilty but not given any punishment. Sohil Ramani and Jatin Bajaj, who also committed similar offenses, were not included in the verdict. The verdict doesn't require Mr. Modi, Sohil, and Jatin to apologise, despite their abuse towards me at work. The compensation asked is small, which may inspire others to commit similar crimes," she added.
Jennifer acknowledged the significance of her victory, crediting her lawyer, Ammitt Khare, for his guidance throughout the legal battle. She emphasised the importance of her fight for justice, not only for herself but also for other women facing similar mistreatment.
Despite the compensation awarded, Jennifer highlighted that it does not fully cover the mental trauma, reputation damage, loss of employment, and medical expenses she endured.
In 2023, Jennifer lodged a sexual harassment complaint against Asit Modi, the producer of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, as well as the operation head Sohail Ramani and executive producer Jatin Bajaj. Jennifer claimed that she experienced multiple instances where Asit allegedly engaged in flirtatious behavior and made unwanted sexual advances towards her.