Bollywood/ Ganesh acharya arrested for harassing a female choreographer
Mumbai Police has booked Ganesh Acharya for sexually harassing a woman choreographer.
second FIR has been filed against Bollywood choreographer Ganesh Acharya, following sexual harassment allegations levelled against him by a senior background dancer. In a letter to the National Commission of Women (NCW) on Tuesday, the complainant revealed that Ganesh Acharya had “coerced” her into having sex with him in 1990, but she managed to escape
Speaking to Mid-Day, the complainant said that she felt the need to come forward with her story after she read about the first FIR filed against Acharya. The complainant also revealed that she knows of another person Acharya had tried something similar on.
The first FIR was filed by a 33-year-old assistant choreographer accusing Ganesh Acharya of forcing her to watch adult videos and depriving her of work. She had filed a complaint against Ganesh Acharya at Maharashtra Women’s Commission and Amboli Police Station on January 28, 2020
The first FIR reveals how Ganesh Acharya had asked the complainant to give him a commission from her income and had also asked her to watch adult videos with him. The report further reveals that Acharya had been harassing the complainant ever since he became the General Secretary of the Indian Film and Television Choreographers Association (IFTCA).
When the complainant refused, Acharya, in a way to get back at her, got her IFTCA membership suspended and issued a letter to other choreographers instructing them not to work with her.
Ganesh Acharya, however, vehemently denies both charges and believes that these are part of a conspiracy against him.
Apart from these FIRs against Ganesh Acharya, his behaviour was criticised recently by veteran choreographer Saroj Khan, and Tanushree Dutta before that.
Khan had earlier spoken up about how Acharya exploits his dancers and uses his position to malign the Cine Dancers Association (CDA). In a press conference in Mumbai on January 17, she had said, “I am just saddened that Ganesh wants to divide this association which is not good. He and his father were associated with this association. It is good that we have rejoined the federation because we have to take some steps.”
Acharya claimed that all of Khan’s allegations were fake.
Tanushree Dutta had also accused the choreographer of spreading “malicious rumours” about her and ruining her reputation. Along with Nana Patekar, Tanushree had filed a complaint against Ganesh Acharya as well, who was the choreographer for the 2008 film Horn OK Pleassss.
