Announcing an anticipatory bail for veteran actor Alok Nath, the Mumbai sessions court observed that filmmaker Vinta Nanda, who had accused the former of sexual assault and rape, “did not lodge a report immediately after the incident for her own benefit”. In an order dated 5th January, judge SS Oza noted that the complainant “remembered the entire incident but did not remember the date and month of the incident. In view of all these facts, the possibility cannot be ruled out that Nath has been falsely enroped in the crime.”
Regarding the delayed FIR which was filed on 21st November 2018, the court said, “If there is a delay in lodging the FIR, it loses the advantage of spontaneity, danger creeps in of the introduction of coloured version, exaggerated account or concocted story as a result of large number of consultations/deliberation (sic).” The Court further added that promptness in lodging the FIR is an assurance regarding the truth of informant’s version.
During the #MeToo wave which took the nation by a storm last year, filmmaker Vinta Nanda had accused actor Alok Nath of sexual assault and rape back in the 90s. In a Facebook post, Nanda, without naming Nath, talked about her ordeal. She accused him of being an alcoholic and displaying obnoxious behaviour, but the same was overlooked because he was one of the most popular actors. She accused him of harassing the lead actress, and even tried to molest her on the set. Alok Nath was later kicked out of the show but soon after the show went off air.
