Alok Nath sues Vinta Nanda over MeToo allegations, seeks Re 1 as compensation

Bollywood actor Alok Nath, accused of sexual harassment by writer-producer Vinta Nanda in the ongoing #MeToo campaign, has filed a defamation case against her asking for a written apology and Re 1 as compensation. In a social media post last week, Nanda had alleged that the actor had raped her 19 years ago. Alok Nath on Monday moved the Dindoshi sessions court in Mumbai with a civil suit seeking Re 1 as damages and an apology from Nanda for defaming him.

The complaint filed by Alok Nath and his wife Ashu says, "The complainants (Nath and Ashu) have on October 12 addressed a letter to the Amboli police seeking action under sections 499 (defamation) and 500 of the Indian Penal Code against Nanda."

"We have suffered grave and irreparable loss, harm and injury which could never be compensated in terms of money," they said.

Because of Nanda's post, which although did not name Nath but subsequently he was named by others, Ashu and Nath have been victimised unnecessarily by way of defamation of their reputation in the society, the complaint said.

Nanda, a veteran writer-producer of the avant-garde 1990s' show "Tara" fame, has accused actor Alok Nath -- known for his "sanskaari" on-screen image -- of sexually violating her almost two decades ago.

"I have waited for this moment to come for 19 years," Nanda wrote in a long, heart-wrenching Facebook post, referring to the "predator in question" as "the actor par excellence who is known as the most 'sanskaari' (cultured) person in the film and television industry".

Nath is known for playing characters endorsing 'moral values' in films such as "Maine Pyaar Kiya", "Hum Aapke Hain Koun!", "Hum Saath Saath Hain" and "Vivah".

His lawyer Ashok Sarogi had last Thursday refuted the allegations as "baseless" and "devoid of any merit".

The #MeToo juggernaut started with Tanushree Dutta alleging that veteran actor Nana Patekar had harassed her and has intensified as more women recounting their experiences of sexual harassment in the entertainment and media industry.