Sajid Khan, who was implicated in sexual harassment allegations in three separate #MeToo accounts by actresses Saloni Chopra and Rachel White and journalist Karishma Upadhyay, has been suspended by the Indian Film & Television Directors' Association for a year, reports news agency ANI. In October, the Ashoke Pandit led IFTDA took action by sending him a letter to explain for his alleged offensive behaviour. In November, Pandit told the media that they will take a decision in the case of the complaints filed by Rachel, Simran, Karishma and Saloni against Sajid Khan--- within a week. It has taken longer, but Sajid has been punished.
In the wake of the allegations made against him, Sajid Khan lost Housefull 4 in October and Farhad Samji stepped into his shoes. The 48-year-old filmmaker claimed he was innocent and had then tweeted: "In the wake of the allegations against me and the pressure being put on my family, my producer and the stars of my film Housefull 4, I must take the moral responsibility of stepping down from my directorial post, till the time I can allay the allegations and prove the truth."
In the inquiry held over his alleged misbehaviour, Sajid claimed he was innocent and misunderstood. A few days later, IFTDA called the complainants over to discuss their grievances in the wake of Sajid's statement to them.
Incidentally, the #MeToo movement started also from a Housefull 4 member landing in serious trouble when Tanushree Dutta revived the sexual harassment against him which she had filed in 20008, when she was shooting for a special song for Horn Ok Pleassss.
Image Source: odisha360.com
Image Source: odisha360.com