Vikas Bahl files Rs 10 crore defamation suit against Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane

News: Filmmaker Vikas Bahl, who has been facing allegations of sexual misconduct by a former employee of Phantom Films, has filed a Rs 10 crore defamation suit against his former co-partners at Phantom - Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane

Earlier today, during an hearing on the matter, the Bombay High Court, posting the matter to Friday, directed Vikas to make the woman employee a respondent to the suit, saying it was pertinent to hear her too. Justice S J Kathawalla directed Bahl, Kashyap, Motwane and the woman to appear in person in his chamber on Friday, when the matter would be heard.

In a suit filed on Tuesday, Vikas sought an interim direction from the court seeking to restrain Kashyap and Motwane from making any statements, either to the media or on social media platforms, against him. The suit, filed on Tuesday, alleged that Kashyap and Motwane made 'defamatory, slanderous and baseless allegations' against him due to which he has suffered irreversible damage to the reputation.

The defamation suit filed by Vikas has sought damages of Rs 10 crore from Kashyap and Motwane.

Earlier, in a statement, Vikas labelled his former partners as opportunists, who allegedly orchestrated the whole campaign against him, making him look like the person responsible for the production house's fall. 

Justice S J Kathawalla, who heard arguments on Bahl's application for interim order, asked if the parties were open to sort out the issue amicably. "Is there any way to end this matter? Just check if the parties are willing for this," he asked the lawyers.

Bahl's counsel Sharan Jagtiani argued that even after the alleged incident, the woman was in touch with Bahl.

To this, Kashyap's counsel Venkatesh Dhond said Bahl cannot trivialise the woman's allegations on this ground, as she had to continue working with Phantom Films. Justice Kathawalla, while adjourning the matter, noted that while the #MeToo movement was good, there should be guidelines in place so that authorities know how to handle such cases.

The 'Queen' famed Bahl was last year accused of sexual harassment by a former employee of the film collective Phantom Films, for an incident that took place in 2015 in Goa during the promotion of the banner`s movie 'Bombay Velvet'. The allegation resurfaced as the #MeToo movement garnered steam in India, leading some others, including 'Queen' actress Kangana Ranaut, to point fingers at Bahl's behaviour towards women.

Kashyap came out in support of the allegations in a HuffPost India report and also tweeted about it, while Motwane called Bahl a 'sexual offender'. Bahl has said the defendants are "taking advantage of the ongoing #MeToo movement in the country".

Kashyap, Motwane, Bahl and Madhu Mantena made a creative film quartet in Bollywood when they established Phantom Films in 2011. They came up with movies like 'Lootera', 'Hasee Toh Phasee', 'Queen' and 'Udta Punjab', as well as the web series 'Sacred Games'. The company`s dissolution was announced earlier this month.