No one can misuse the #MeToo movement to settle personal scores: HC

On Friday, the Bombay High Court (HC) said that the #MeToo movement cannot be misused by anybody to settle personal scores. Single-judge bench of justice Shahrukh Kahthawalla made the observations while hearing the defamation suit filed by film producer Vikas Bahl against his former partners – Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane.

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Senior counsel Navroz Seervai, who represented the victim told the court that her client decided not to contest this matter in any of the forums and does not want to pursue this matter, though she stands by whatever allegations she has made against Bahl.

After hearing the submission, Justice Kathawalla said,

When the victim herself does not wish to pursue the case, I believe, third parties should not use the shoulders of the victim to fire salvos at anyone.  If third parties continue to act in such a manner, then the entire movement will have no meaning."

Last year, the victim had claimed that she was sexually harassed by Bahl way back in 2015 in Goa during the shooting of Bombay Velvet film.

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Recently, the allegations resurfaced when the #MeToo movement gathered pace in India after several celebrities and senior journalists were named and shamed by women. Kashyap and Motwani had supported the victim and had also given statements against Bahl, due to which, he sought a compensation of ₹10 crore.