#MeToo: CINTAA Expels Alok Nath Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

The Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) announced on Tuesday that it has expelled actor Alok Nath in view of various sexual harassment and misconduct against him. This comes a month after writer-producer Vinta Nanda first came out with MeToo allegations against the actor. 

Decision taken in view of the various allegations

The association wrote on Twitter, "In view of the various allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Alok Nath, after due diligence and consideration, the Executive Committee of CINTAA has decided to expel him from the Association."

In view of the various allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Mr. Alok Nath, after due diligence and consideration, the Exec. Committee of #cintaa has decided to expel him from the Association. @sushant_says @renukashahane @FIA_actors @sagaftra @RichaChadha pic.twitter.com/tcNgooWLW6

— CINTAA_Official (@CintaaOfficial) November 13, 2018

CINTAA had previously sent a show-cause notice to Nath asking him for explanation of his actions. When contacted about him getting expelled, Nath told PTI that he is yet to receive any official communication. "I have not received anything from CINTAA yet," he said. 

Last month amid the #MeToo wave, Vinta Nanda, best known for the hit '90s TV show 'Tara', had accused Nath of raping her more than once 19 years ago. Besides Nanda, actor Sandhya Mridul had also accused Nath of harassment recalling an incident from an outdoor shoot years ago.

Mridul had narrated how Nath "lunged at her" in a drunken stupor and constantly harassed her during the making of a telefilm in the '90s. She shared her experience in a twitter post, and claimed that she stands by Vinta Nanda. Additionally, actor Deepika Deshpande Amin had also come out and spoke about how Alok Nath made sexual advances towards her during the shoot of a telefilm in 1995. Amin had posted about it on her Facebook account.

Recently, Mumbai’s Dindoshi Sessions Court had rejected Alok Nath’s wife’s request for an injunction order against Vinta Nanda, as per reports.

The court, with this order, had allowed Vinta Nanda to speak freely on any platform she wishes to. Alok Nath’s wife had made the request citing that Nanda is maligning her husband’s image in the public eye. However, Nanda’s advocate submitted that an injunction order against her client would send a wrong signal to all women who have managed to speak up against harassment.

Nath has repeatedly denied all the claims made against him. He also went on to file a defamation case against Nanda.

Also Read: Where To From #MeToo: The Way Forward In Bollywood