Mumbai Court Shuts Down Tanushree Dutta’s ‘Me Too’ Case Against Nana Patekar and Others
A Mumbai court has officially closed two sexual harassment cases filed by actress Tanushree Dutta against actor Nana Patekar and three others, ending a high-profile chapter of India’s ‘Me Too’ movement. The Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court made the ruling on Friday, stating there wasn’t enough evidence and the complaints were filed too late.
The cases began with two First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged at Oshiwara police station in October 2018. Dutta accused Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, producer Rakesh Sarang, and Abdul Sami Abdul Gani Siddhiqui of harassing her on a film set. She claimed the incidents happened in March 2008 and October 2010, alleging they insulted and outraged her modesty during the filming of Horn Ok Pleassss.
The Oshiwara police investigated but found no solid proof to back Dutta’s claims. They labeled the complaints as false and submitted closure reports to the court. On Friday, Magistrate NV Bansal agreed, closing the first case because it was filed in 2018—well past the three-year legal time limit under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for offenses like these, listed under Sections 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
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For the second case tied to an alleged 2010 incident involving Siddhiqui, the court found no intent to harm—known as “mens rea”—and dropped it too. This decision marks a setback for Dutta, who sparked India’s ‘Me Too’ wave in 2018 by revisiting her 2008 accusations against Patekar.
Dutta’s case had grabbed headlines, inspiring many women to share their own stories of harassment. However, the police’s 2019 “B-summary” report—indicating no evidence for trial—paved the way for this closure. Despite her protests, the court upheld the time-barred status of the 2008 claims and saw no grounds to proceed on the 2010 allegations.
This ruling ends a seven-year legal saga that tested India’s justice system on older harassment claims. For now, Patekar and the others walk free, while the ‘Me Too’ conversation continues to evolve.
