Malayalam actor-turned MLA Mukesh caught in #MeToo storm
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 9: As the #MeToo campaign gains momentum in the country, Malayalam actor-turned MLA Mukesh has been accused by a woman casting director of Bollywood of harassing her in 1999 during shooting of a television show.
Tess Joseph Tuesday took to Twitter to share the harrowing experiences she had to undergo from the "Godfather" actor while he was hosting the quiz programme "Koteeswaran".
An MLA of the ruling CPI(M) and the host of several popular TV shows, Mukesh, however, rejected the charges and said he did not even remember the shooting of the programme.
"Took 19 yrs but here is my story #MeTooIndia #TimesUp #Metoo," Tess, who has cast for international films such as "Lion", "Life of Pi" and "The Namesake", tweeted as she joined the campaign.
She alleged that Mukesh had called her room multiple times during the shooting of the TV show and changed her room to beside his at the hotel where they had stayed.
Tess also thanked her then boss Derek O'Brien who had helped her escape the harassment.
"I was 20 years old quiz directing #koteeswaran when the mallu host #mukeshkumar called my room multiple times and then changed my room to beside his on the next sch," she tweeted.
"My then boss @derekobrienmp spoke to me for an hour & got me out on the next flight. 19 yrs on thank you Derek," she said.
Tess also came out against the staff of the five star hotel where she had stayed during the TV shoot, for changing her room as Mukesh asked for it.
Asked about the charge, Mukesh laughed it off and said he did not even remember either the shooting days or Tess.
Known for his comedy and supporting roles in several blockbuster Malayalam films in the last three decades, the actor, however, was not ready to say anything further.
Following Hollywood's #MeToo movement, which has seen several women there speaking out about sexual harassment faced by them, many people are referring to actress Tanushree Dutta's statement on Nana Patekar as the beginning of a similar campaign in Bollywood.
Dutta has accused Patekar of behaving inappropriately with her on the sets of the film "Horn Ok Please" in 2008.
Following her allegations, women across various spheres, including journalists, have taken to social media, narrating their ordeal.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Vinod Tawde seeks apology from Kharge, Rahul through legal notice, warns of defamation lawsuit
Cash-for-vote row
New Delhi, Nov 22: BJP leader Vinod Tawde has demanded an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for making "false and baseless" allegations against him in the cash-for-votes incident in Maharashtra, saying if they don't he would sue them for defamation.
Tawde was accused by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, a regional party, of distributing Rs 5 crore to woo voters, with its members barging into a hotel room on November 19 in a Mumbai suburb, where the BJP leader was present.
The former Maharashtra minister and BJP national general secretary claimed innocence, saying the alleged amount was not recovered in the probe by the Election Commission and police.
"The Congress only believes in spreading lies, and this incident is a proof of the party's low level politics to dent me and my party's image," Tawde said.
The two Congress leaders and the party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate seized on the row to accuse the BJP of using money power to influence the November 20 assembly polls in the state.
The legal notice sent to the three claimed that they were aware that they were pushing a "totally false story fabricated" by them.
"You all have deliberately, mischievously with the sole intention of damaging the reputation of our client intentionally fabricated the story distribution of money. You all have published false, baseless allegations against our client on various media for tarnishing his image in the eyes of right thinking people in the society," the notice read.
The Congress leaders were in a "great hurry" to damage Tawde's reputation, they did not bother to check the fact and or despite knowing the entire fact they made the false, baseless allegations, it said.
"The entire imputation made by you all are totally false, baseless, malicious and mala fide and as our client is in no way involved in any such illegal activity and as a responsible office bearer of the national political party he is aware of his duties," it added.
The notice demanded an "unconditional apology" to Tawde within 24 hours from the time the receipt of the notice, which was sent on November 21, and published in newspapers and X.
If they do not offer apology, then Tawde will initiate criminal proceedings under Section 356, which covers defamation, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and also civil proceedings for the damages of Rs 100 crore against the three Congress leaders, the notice said.
