#MeToo: Film Body Suspends Sajid Khan for One Year Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

Filmmaker Sajid Khan has been suspended for one year by Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) after being accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Actors Dia Mirza, Lara Dutta and Bipasha Basu also called out the director for his alleged misbehaviour with his female colleagues on film set.

Sajid was embroiled in #MeToo controversy after three separate harrowing accounts by actresses Saloni Chopra and Rachel White and journalist Karishma Upadhyay against him emerged online.

In a statement to Indian Express, IFTDA president Ashoke Pandit said, “The committee investigated the complaints in the spirit of POSH Act and in compliance of principles of sexual harassment, unwelcome sexually determined behaviour, unwarranted contact by poking and advances, demands for sexual favours and abuse of power by Sajid Khan. Mr Sajid Khan was given an opportunity to put forth his defence. He did not give any explanation, response or defence to the allegations of sexual harassment, unwelcome sexually determined behaviour, poking at the girls and asking the girls to seduce or strip or to show cleavage and other sexual misconduct and thereby traumatised them mentally and emotionally. Mr Sajid Khan did not accept the sexual molestation of the complainants but admitted that his behaviour and language was impolite, he had been brash and used abusive language with his friends which included boys and girls. He admitted that he had sex relations with girls, but with their consent."

IFTDA issued a show-cause notice to Sajid in October and sent him a letter, demanding an explanation for his alleged offensive behaviour.

Replying to the notice, Sajid denied the chargers and said the allegations have harmed his professional and personal life. Soon after the #MeToo allegations against him emerged online, Sajid issued a statement on Twitter which read, “In the wake of the allegations against me and the pressure being put on my family, my producer and the stars of the 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. I request my friends in the media to kindly not pass judgment till the truth is out.”