Anu Malik’s name
has surfaced in the #MeToo movement. First, it was Sona Mohapatra who called
him out and said that he was a "serial predator." Then Shweta Pandit
also called out the music composer saying that he asked her to kiss him when
she was just 15. Indian Idol's former assistant producer, Danica D’Souza
has also spoken to mid-day about Anu's misconduct. Now, Sony TV has decided to
part ways with Anu Malik.
“Anu Mallik is no
longer a part of the Indian Idol jury panel. The show will continue its planned
schedule and we will invite some of the biggest names in Indian music as guests
to join Vishal (Dadlani) and Neha (Kakkar) to judge the extraordinary talent of
Indian Idol season 10," read the spokesperson’s quote.
Vishal Daldani, Neha Kakkar And Anu Malik
Our well-placed
sources inform that Anu voluntarily stepped down owing to the allegations
against him. The music composer had recently told Mid-Day that the allegations
were "false and per se defamatory". He went on to add, "I want
to give a detailed reply after ascertaining the correctness [of the
account]."
Anu Malik had
been a part of the Indian Idol right from the first season. The #MeToo movement
in India was kick-started by Tanushree Dutta, who spoke up about having faced
sexual harassment at the hands of Nana Patekar on the sets of Horn 'Ok'
Pleassss back in 2008.