Named in #MeToo, Bollywood’s Anu Malik taken off ‘Indian Idol’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21

Composer Anu Malik was stripped of his role as a jurist for talent hunt show “Indian Idol” after his name again figured in the ongoing #MeToo movement to call out men over sexual misconduct.

Singer Shweta Pandit named Malik on Twitter recalling her trauma and accused the famous composer of subjecting her to sexual harassment when she was just 15. Pandit mentioned that no action had been taken against Malik who was earlier called out by singers Alisha Chinoy and Sona Mahapatra and said he was a “serial offender”. The Sony group took Malik off the show and said it was looking for replacements.

In another development today, lawyer Indira Jaisingh said she would no longer represent Bakerwal activist Talib Hussain who had recently led protests for justice to the minor victim of Kathua gang rape. After another woman came out accusing Hussain of raping her in Delhi and keeping her against her will, Jaisingh said she would not be defending Hussain in the matter in the wake of her solidarity with the #MeToo movement.

Meanwhile, the accuser of filmmaker Vihas Bahl has already decided to withdraw the case as the movement invites a push back from celebrity accused. Ex-minister MJ Akbar has already filed a defamation suit against his accuser Priya Ramani and a Delhi court will record his statement on October 31.