Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is one of the longest running shows on Indian television, which has a huge dedicated fanbase. Over the past few months, however, the makers of the show are being dragged through the mud by their former actors for the injustice they have faced. From not paying their dues on time, to people not wanting to come back, actress Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal took the internet by storm when she alleged Asit Kumarr Modi and two others of mental and sexual harassment.
On Monday, after waiting for over a month, she filed an FIR against Modi, operation head Sohail Ramani and executive producer Jatin Bajaj with the Mumbai Police. Now, her statements from her complaint have come to light. According to a report by Indiatimes, in her statement she had alleged that the producer would often pressure her to drink alcohol with him. Recalling an incident that took place in Singapore, she alleged that the producer insisted she drink with him when her roommate wasn’t around. ALSO READ: Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal Demands A Public APOLOGY From Asit Modi; Says, ‘If I Was Problematic Why Did They Tolerate Me For So Long?’
She added that Modi would also keep making unwanted advances towards her, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable. The actress went on to add that whenever she used to deny his request of drinking with him, he would find ways to disrupt her work and find issues with her performance. A portion of her statement read, “He would also pinch my cheeks, say inappropriate things about my appearance and say he would have hugged me if we were together while talking over the phone.” ALSO READ: TMKOC Producer Asit Kumarr Modi Denies Allegations Of Sexual Harassment Charges Against Him; Says, ‘Not Aware If FIR Is Registered’
Jennifer even shed light on the verbal abuse she had to go through at the hands of Ramani and Bajaj. In her complaint she alleged that they would constantly yell at her for wanting to take leaves. Recalling the occasions, she revealed it happened during her father’s death and when her late brother was on the ventilator. Not only did they threaten her by stating that they would replace her, but they would also abuse her on the phone. The statement reads, “On asking him how he could speak that way with a woman, he threatened me with consequences. After that, he would make it difficult for me to take time off and would often stop my fees from being paid in time.”
The FIR was registered by the Powai police against the makers under sections 354 and 509 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC (Indian Penal Code). No arrests have been made in the matter as the case is under investigation. While Modi went on to deny all the allegations in an interview with Aaj Tak, Jennifer expressed her wish to receive a public apology from the makers of the show.
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