Film-maker Anurag Kashyap was recently summoned by the Mumbai police over an FIR lodged against him by actor Payal Ghosh, accusing him of sexual assault and rape.
Now that Kashyap has recorded his statement, his lawyer Priyanka Himani has released a statement on his behalf, listing down the clarifications the director provided regarding the matter, reported Firstpost. Khimani also shared the proof Kashyap has submitted to authenticate his claims.
The statement reads, “According to an FIR registered with the Versova Police Station, Ms Payal Ghosh has alleged that in August 2013, my client, Mr Anurag Kashyap, called her to his house and sexually harassed her. Mr Kashyap has denied all wrongdoing in the matter and has provided his statement to the police. The material provided by Mr Kashyap, in support of his statement, demonstrates that the complaint of Ms Ghosh is an outright lie.”
It goes on to emphasise on the fact that the Gangs of Wasseypur director provided “documentary proof” to verify his stay in Sri Lanka in August 2013, for the shooting of one of his films. “Mr Kashyap has categorically denied any such alleged incident and has also denied all allegations leveled against him,” the statement adds.
“These sudden, belated allegations of an alleged incident in August 2013 have been widely publicised by the plaintiff for the purpose of vilifying Mr Kashyap, irrespective of the outcome of the judicial process. Mr Kashyap is confident that the falsity of the complaint has been exposed, not only by the evidence presented by him but also the ever-shifting versions of events put forth by Ms Ghosh in the media.”
Himani went on to state that the director is “apprehensive” since the ‘falsity’ of Ghosh’s allegations have been established and claims that, “She will alter her version of events in the forthcoming investigative process as well.”
“Mr Kashyap is distressed with the false and reckless allegations made against him that have caused pain to him, his family and his fans. He intends to vigorously pursue the legal remedies available to him. Mr Kashyap vehemently denies any such incident, as has been alleged, and has sought for severe action against Ms Ghosh for misusing the criminal justice system and for hijacking the #MeToo movement for her ulterior motives. Mr Kashyap is confident that justice will prevail.”
Earlier, Kashyap’s ex-wives Aarti Bajaj and Kalki Koechlin had extended their support to him in elaborate social media posts, while Bollywood actors Taapsee Pannu, Radhika Apte, among others, also spoke out in his favour.
Ghosh, on the other hand, had taken to social media to share in detail how Kashyap forced himself on her, following which his lawyer released an initial statement on his behalf. She had even alleged that Kashyap claimed “small time female actors like Richa Chadda, Mahie Gill and Huma Qureshi often provided him sexual favours in exchange for projects,” in order to lure her into doing the same.
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