The #MeToo movement is spreading like wildfire across the country. One of the names that have surfaced as alleged sexual predator is the film an TV ac, or Alok Nath. The actor known as 'sanskari Bapu' in pop culture, owing to the barrage of uber-positive fatherly roles he has played on screen, has been accused of rape by the director of a show he was a part of in the '90s. The  Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA)  sent the actor a show-cause notice post the sexual harassment accusations. Himani Shivpuri on Alok Nath: Some Things are Open Secret in the Industry.

Alok has replied to the notice, as per reports, and has said that he is not answerable to any organisation since no formal complaints have been filed against him. Alok's lawyer sent the response to IFTDA on Monday.

The notice from his lawyer read, “My client states that however, in the present case, there is no complaint at all made with any of the police authorities nor filed with any of the legal authorities save and except making interviews and some complaints on social media.”

“Please note that since till date, there is no such initial complaint made by any of person including the said Smt Vinta Nanda, the question of my client being liable to show any case before your association does not arise,” the notice further stated.

The notice also read, "some of the persons have started misusing liberties, protection, concessions available to them for hailing in a particular class and more particularly liberties and protections made available to the female members. It is also the matter of experience that time and again, false and fabricate complaints are filed including complaint of serious nature inviting serious sections and serious penal sections and ultimately the persons against whom the allegations are made are being acquitted by the Court and thereafter the complaint by itself is quashed by the Court."

Earlier, Alok's lawyer had also responded to the notice issued to the actor by Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA). Alok's lawyer Ashok Saraogi had denied all the allegations of sexual harassment made against his client.

Earlier, Alok and his wife Ashu, had moved magistrate court to file a defamation suit on the accuser. As per reports, his wife is planning to file another defamation suit on the accuser asking for a compensation of Re 1 from her. 

On the other hand, the accuser's lawyer confirmed to media that they are also gearing up to fight this battle on legal grounds now. We are waiting to see this battle move to court.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2018 10:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).