In the growing list of men who have been named in India and Bollywood’s #MeToo wave, famous painter and father of actor-director Nandita Das, Jatin Das, was the latest addition. Two women came out on Tuesday night and named and shamed their alleged harasser for subjecting them to sexual assault.
However, the Padma Bhushan awardee has denied the allegations and said these days a “game” was going on to level allegations against people for the “fun” of it.
Jatin Das further labelled the allegations against him as “vulgar”.
“I am shocked. All kinds of things are happening these days… Some people do things and some people make allegations. I don’t know her, I have never met her, and even if I did meet somebody somewhere one doesn’t behave like this…it is vulgar,” Jatin told Indian media.
“There is a game going on, some people are real, have done some things while some people are making allegations for the fun of it,” he added.
Additionally, Nandita Das also took to her Facebook and broke her silence against the allegations made against her father and said that “despite the allegations” she will “continue to support to the #MeToo movement”.
Terming the allegations as “disturbing” she said that, “I have maintained from the very start that this is the time we all need to listen so that women (and men) feel safe to speak up. At the same time, it is also important to be sure about allegations so as not to dilute the movement.”
Das said she has received support from “friends and strangers – who are concerned and are trusting my integrity”.
“I do believe the truth will prevail. And that is all I have to say on this matter,” she asserted.
Earlier, Nisha Bora alleged that Das had groped and forcefully kissed her in 2004, following which another woman stepped forward and alleged that Jatin harassed her, India Today reported. Bora was 28-years-old and married at the time of the incident.
The other woman, Anushree Majumdar had also opened up about her encounter with Das. Anushree revealed that she first met Das in 2006 when she was just of college.
(1/3) I was fresh out of college when I met Jatin Das in 2006. I was a project manager for the first Monsoon Festival in Delhi, 2006. I had to pick up a painting from his studio, I called him to ask when. He was sweet till he asked me if I would work for him as his assistant. https://t.co/PsQ9WRO1tB
— Anushree Majumdar (@CaptBackspace) October 16, 2018
