Rumours of clean chit spread to get work in films: Tanushree Dutta’s lawyer on sexual harassment case against Nana Patekar

Tanushree Dutta’s lawyer Nitin Satpute has vehemently denied that Nana Patekar got a 'clean chit' in the sexual harassment case filed against him by the former. Satpute stated that the rumours were being spread by the accused to get work in films again. He added that the charge sheet against the veteran is yet to be filed 'because all witnesses’ statements have not been recorded and that some are under pressure and some who lied in their statements'. The lawyer stated that arresting the ‘Welcome’ star will be possible only when all the statements are recorded. 

READ: Tanushree Dutta Reveals Nana Patekar Has Not Been Given A Clean Chit, Accuses His PR Team Of 'false Rumours' In A Fresh New Statement

Just a day after it was reported that witness' statements don't support accusations against Nana Patekar levelled by Tanushree Dutta, the actress clarified that the report doing the rounds of the internet is “false”. Tanushree accused the actor's PR team of spreading the “false rumour”.  

In a press conference in Mumbai on Friday, Satpute echoed his client’s views, “There is no clean chit given to the accused person. The investigation is still going on, and at a crucial stage. You have seen that after the registration of the FIR, the accused person has lost work in the film industry, so it is highly possible that they must have spread this rumour to get work again. Recently, one Alok Nath has got work in the film industry, so on the basis of that, rumours have been spread on social media and media.” 

He added, “It is totally false. There is a procedure established by the law to give clean chit. Police has to file application before the court, they have to file summary report. In summary report, they need to send summons to the complainant and file their say. Then the magistrate decides whether to give clean chit or not. It is not an oral job to give clean chit to anyone.” 

Tanushree had accused Patekar of touching her inappropriately during the shooting of a song in 2008 for the movie ‘Horn ‘OK’ Pleassss’. After opening up on the incident in interviews, the actress approached the police, following which an FIR was lodged against Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, director Rakesh Sarang and producer Samee Siddiqui under section 354 of the Indian Penal Code.

Opening up on the investigation, the lawyer revealed, “Police recorded and examined the statements of 10-15 witnesses. There has been a delay of 7 months. Police were busy in the elections and security arrangements around it, so they couldn’t file the chargesheet.”  

“Some eyewitnesses are yet to be examined. Some are members of CINTAA and some are backstage dancers, their statements are not that useful. That is the reason Nana Patekar has not been arrested.  However, after the registration of the statements of all eyewitnesses, Nana Patekar can be arrested," he added.

Satpute added, “Some of the witnesses have been pressurised, so they are not coming forward. 10 years ago, an eyewitness in the case was put in the lock-up for two days. So they are also not coming forward."  

READ: ‘You Will Not Prosper In Any Way’: Tanushree Dutta Reveals Her Shocking 'curse' At Nana Patekar, Ganesh Acharya, Rakhi Sawant

“Till Nana Patekar is arrested, none of the witnesses will feel the safety and security and they won’t come ahead. That’s why his arrest is very important. After all these rumours were spread, there is more possibility that he will be arrested,” he further said. 

“No chargesheet has been filed against Nana Patekar. Since the investigation is left, only after the registration of the charge sheet, there will be a hearing.” 

Tanushree, however, had earlier in a statement admitted that the investigation has been slowed down and claimed that many witnesses have received threat calls from Nana's close aides.

In the statement, Tanushree said, “It is true that the investigation has been slow due to constant threat calls from Nana's people received by many key witnesses from our side who have been unable to record their statement due to fear and intimidation. False witnesses have been presented in their place to mislead the investigation. Calls have been coming to witnesses from all kinds of sources to discourage them from telling the truth. Under such circumstances what manner of investigation or justice is possible?”