Maneka Gandhi Alerts NCW To Take Up Chinmayi Sripada’s Harassment Case

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has alerted the National Commission for Women (NCW) to take up the alleged case of sexual harassment of Telugu singer Chinmayi Sripada by industry stalwart Vairamuthu. After Sripada blew the lid off the sordid case, the dubbing industry union did not allow her to work. On Wednesday, Sripada approached Gandhi via Twitter.

Gandhi immediately responded to her tweet and alerted the NCW to take up her case.

I have taken up your case with @NCWIndia. Kindly DM your contact details. @Chinmayi @sharmarekha https://t.co/louSvb4Ge6

— Maneka Sanjay Gandhi (@Manekagandhibjp) February 27, 2019

In her tweets, Sripada said since she called out her predator, she has “been banned from work in the TN Film Industry (Dubbing Union). The law as of today doesn’t allow me to file a case”.

“Many of my colleagues who have named Vairamuthu & men are afraid of coming out in the open because speaking up has cost me my basic income in the past 4 months. Please tell me what I should do, what more I should do. Due process has failed me. Please help this Beti. And others,” she added.

@Manekagandhibjp @NCWIndia
Maam, it’s been 4 months since I named Mr Vairamuthu as my predator. I have since then been banned from work in the TN Film Industry (Dubbjng Union).
The law as of today doesn’t allow me to file a case.
Please give me a solution @PMOIndia

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) February 27, 2019

Many of my colleagues who have named Vairamuthu & men are afraid of coming out in the open because speaking up has cost me my basic income in the past 4 months.
Please tell me what I should do, what more I should do. Due process has failed me.
Please help this Beti. And others

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) February 27, 2019

In October, when several women from the media and film industry alleged sexual harassment by their colleagues, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Telugu judge, Sripada accused the powerful Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu of forcefully hugging and kissing her years back anonymously. Since she couldn’t do much then, she ran away. Later, she took to Twitter and in a detailed account revealed how she had allegedly been asked by the organiser of a programme in Switzerland to "cooperate" with Vairamuthu.

Many of my colleagues who have named Vairamuthu & men are afraid of coming out in the open because speaking up has cost me my basic income in the past four months

After the revelation, the dubbing union terminated her services and asked her to pay Rs 1.5 lakh and write an apology letter to the South Indian Cine Television Artist Dubbing Union (SICTADU) for the singer to get her reinstated in the union. It has been reported that her termination happened because she supported women who accused the union president Radha Ravi of sexual harassment.

The last film that Chinmayi dubbed for was the super-hit 96 which released in October last year.

Picture credit- The News Minute

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