Anu Malik offers to resign as reality show judge: channel sources
Mumbai, Nov 21: Music composer Anu Malik, who has been accused of sexual harassment by several women, including singers Sona Mohapatra, Neha Bhasin and Shweta Pandit, has offered to step down as a judge of a reality show on Sony TV, channel sources said on Thursday.
"He conveyed to the channel today that he wants to step down till he clears his name," a Sony Entertainment Television insider told PTI.
However, it is uncertain whether the channel accepted his resignation.
Malik remained unavailable for comment.
Mohapatra welcomed the move.
"Thank you to all the women & men & the media of India who supported our campaign #MoveOutMalik. A repeat offender like Anu Malik on national tv triggered a lot of trauma, pain & stress in many of our lives. I have been ill for a while & I hope to sleep well tonight," the singer wrote on Twitter.
The development comes a week after the music director denied the allegations, saying he was being "cornered" for something he did not do and may take legal action.
In a statement posted on social media, Malik called the claims "false and unverified", adding they had affected his "only source of livelihood".
Malik was first accused of misconduct last year during the #MeToo wave and was briefly dropped from the singing reality show.
The claims resurfaced with his reinstatement this September.
When he was reinstated Mohapatra penned an open letter, in which she recounted several allegations of harassment against Malik. She also lambasted musicians Sonu Nigam, Vishal Dadlani and Neha Kakkar for supporting him.
Even veteran singer Alisha Chinai had accused Malik of molesting her during the shooting of her hit track "Made in India".
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.
Minor girl kidnapped and raped; main accused and two cafe owners held
Latur (PTI): A minor girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by an 18-year-old man in Latur, leading to the arrest of the main accused and owners of two cafes where the crime occurred on December 4, police said on Saturday.
Police traced the girl within hours of registering the complaint. The accused, identified as Rihan Gulab Shaikh, was arrested based on the girl's complaint. Two others are owners of two cafes where the crime occurred, police said.
Police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), POCSO Act, and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, an official said.
