There Should Be No Time Limit For #MeToo Cases: Maneka Gandhi

New Delhi: With cases of sexual assaults surfacing and coming to the light in Bollywood, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday said that there should be no time frame for lodging sexual harassment complaints.

“You will always remember the person who did it, which is why we have written to the Law Ministry that complaints should be without any time limit,” said the Union Minister, who is happy that #MeToo campaign had started in Bollywood. However, she hoped it would not go out of control in the sense that people start targeting others for offending them in some way.

She said one can now complain 10-15 years later. “Doesn’t matter how much later. If you are going to complain, the avenue is still open. Anger at sexual molestation never goes away,” she added.

According to the current law, any offence including child abuse, which can lead to a prison term of three years, has to be reported within three years of the incident. If it is in the ‘interest of justice’ or if the ‘delay has been properly explained’, the court may proceed.

The #MeToo movement or the allegations started to pop up one after the another after actress Tanushree Dutta accused actor Nana Patekar of harassing her on the sets of a film 10 years ago. She had complained then, but the film body ignored it.

Singer Kailash Kher has been accused by a journalist for misbehaving with her during an interview. Likewise, several film personalities, writers and entertainers have been blamed for sexual assault, gaslighting and misconduct.

The recent one being actor Rajat Kapoor, who has been accused of asking uncomfortable questions to a journalist during a telephonic interview. An assistant director also spoke about him calling her to an empty house and shooting a movie. He took to twitter and posted an apology note.

Queen’s director Vikas Bahl was also accused of sexual misconduct by three women, including actress Kangana Ranaut. His production house, Phantom House, co-owned by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Madhu Mantena, has been dissolved. Kashyap and Motwane also wrote notes on Twitter agreeing to the fact that Vikas was guilty.

Several journalists and editors, including Satadru Ojha from a leading newspaper, has been accused of misconduct and harassing a reporter emotionally after she refused to give in to his demands.

Last week, stand-up comedian Utsav Chakraborty was also called out by women. Writer Chetan Bhagat also found himself in a soup when screenshots, where he asked inappropriate questions to the journalist, were put up on social media.

My response to the screenshots, that just came a couple of hours ago. Been as truthful about it as possible : https://t.co/1JC7kVcodl