Mumbai Police Register Case Against Munmun Dutta For Using Caste Slur

Munmun Dutta FIR: Mumbai police have registered a case against the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma actor for her use of a caste slur in a video that went viral earlier this month.

A police official said that a complaint was filed against her by Naresh Bohit who is a community leader for a political party, at the Goregaon police station, on May 12. As the actor stays in Amboli, the complaint was subsequently transferred to the Amboli police station. Following investigations, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed Wednesday against her, as per PTI reports.

Dutta has now been booked under IPC sections 295(A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and section 3 of the Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act.

Some reports mention the FIR in Mumbai was filed by Vinod Kajaniya, a Congress activist. A spokesperson for Mumbai Congress has said, "It is essential that an example should be set by arresting Dutta for her casteist remark so that the citizens and celebrities take cue and refrain from insulting or demeaning SC & ST community with similar remarks," as per India Today.  

Munmun Dutta FIR: Multiple Complaints Against Actor

This is not the first formal complaint against Dutta in the controversy that erupted May 9. FIRs were previously filed in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh too. Details on that here.

The complaints come after the actor had posted a makeup video, in which she used a casteist slur, which prompted calls for her arrest under the SC/ST Act by social media users. Hansraj Meena, a well-known activist shared her video on his Twitter handle, and urged the Mumbai police to take action against her.

We are demanding @MumbaiPolice please take a strict action against her in SC/ST act. She is using inappropriate word for a particular society & hurt our sentiment. #ArrestMunmunDutta pic.twitter.com/kJPTy18Ccl

— Hansraj Meena (@HansrajMeena) May 10, 2021

Fellow television industry colleague Yuvika Choudhary used the same caste slur in a video that went viral only days after Dutta stirred controversy. Here's what Choudhary's case is all about.

Munmun Dutta issues an apology

Munmun Dutta had issued an apology and said that she had taken down the video. She stated she didn't know the exact meaning of the word she had used, because of her 'language barrier.'

"Once I was made aware of its meaning I immediately took the part down. I have utmost respect for every single person from every caste, creed or gender and acknowledge their immense contribution to our society or nation," wrote Munmun Dutta.

pic.twitter.com/vxWspMtLzP

— Munmun Dutta (@moonstar4u) May 10, 2021