Actor Alok Nath accused of rape by writer-director Vinta Nanda 20 years ago, has finally secured anticipatory bail. And in a recent interaction with the media, Alok Nath was quoted as saying, “The honourable court and my lawyers have advised me to keep completely silent for now. In fact, I've been quiet throughout. Maybe, some words escaped my mouth in my state of angst. But otherwise, I've been lying absolutely low for the last three months.” He also promised to have a ‘heart-to-heart- conversation with the media soon where he would reveal his side of the story. #MeToo in Bollywood: Alok Nath Promises To Have a Heart-to-Heart Conversation With The Media Very Soon

And a report in Indian Express details the happenings and events that led to the actor securing bail. The Dindoshi Sessions Court pointed out that the (Vinta’s) delay in lodging an FIR leads to the danger of the introduction of “coloured version, exaggerated account”.

Stating that the Vinta had not lodged the report immediately after the incident due to “her own benefit”.

“So far as the reason to delay in lodging the FIR is concerned, the complainant stated in the report itself that she consulted with her friends regarding lodging of report but they told her that applicant (Nath) is a big actor and all her companies were already shut, therefore no one would believe her story, hence, she did not file the complaint. Thus, nothing on record to show that the applicant has given any threat or made any promise for not lodging the report. Thus, it reveals that complainant did not lodge the report immediately after the alleged incident of her own benefit,” Additional Sessions Judge S S Oza said in the order.

Suggesting that a prompt FIR reflects the first-hand account of the incident, the court said, “If there is a delay in lodging the FIR, it loses the advantage of spontaneity, danger creeps in the introduction of coloured version, exaggerated account or concocted story as a result of a large number of consultations/deliberations.” #MeToo in Bollywood: Sessions Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Alok Nath in the Vinta Nanda Case

The report also read that the court also took into consideration of how Vinta did not remember the date and month of the incident. “It is to be noted that complainant has remembered the entire incident but she did not remember the date and month of the incident. In view of all these facts, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the applicant has falsely been enroped in the crime (sic),” it said.

Alok Nath was granted bail on Saturday by the court on a surety of Rs 5 lakh. However, Vinta Nanda is yet to speak up on Nath being granted bail.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 09, 2019 11:28 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).