#MeToo Movement: ‘Police Now Wants Me to Take a Physical Medical Test to Prove My Story’, Says Vinta Nanda

Veteran writer-producer of 1990s' show Vinta Nanda, who joined the #MeToo Movement in India, accused actor Alok Nath of sexually harassing her and raping her while she was working on the show 'Tara'. The alleged incident took place nearly two decades ago (20 years ago). However, Vinta now must undergo physical medical tests able to help investigate the alleged incident twenty years later! Yes, you read that right. Instead of an action to be taken against the veteran actor, police wants the woman to take medical tests as only then they will be able to proceed with the case. Alok Nath Defamation Suit: Sexual Harassment Accuser’s Lawyer Says, We Will Fight It out Legally

On Sunday, in a statement to PTI, "I have to go for a physical medical test now, twenty years later. I read in the paper today where they've said I have to undergo a medical check and only then they will be able to proceed with the case," further adding that she took on Alok Nath in the capacity she could, however she lacked courage to approach the police back then. She said, "I did take him on in that sense. We went to his house and spoke to his wife back then but she said she can't do anything about it. She was probably as helpless. Going to the police wasn't an option for me. I just didn't have the courage. I was so terrified."

Nanda, who revealed her ordeal at a panel discussion on #MeToo movement in the city on Sunday, said "Silence manifests in different ways. If you're not the kind of person to be silent, if you are the person who confronts things and deals with them in an empowered way, you are worse off dealing with silence within you because you've internalised something which isn't natural to you at all."

She further added, "I attribute my attitude of mistrust and negativity with which I've lived it to silence, which got released when I posted that on Facebook. A lot of my friends ask me today what has happened to you, we are having cinema conversations with you now," she added. Also present at the panel discussion were filmmaker Paromita Vohra, Sister Jesme and Mahima Kukreja." Also present at the panel discussion were filmmaker-columnist Paromita Vohra, Sister Jesme and Mahima Kukreja. Watch this space for further updates.

Inputs From PTI

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 09:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).