IFTDA suspends Sajid Khan over sexual harassment charges

In the wake of #MeToo Movement, Filmmaker Sajid Khan has been accused of harassment by four women – a journalist, a former assistant, and two actors. Taking a cognizance into the serious matter on Wednesday, Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) suspended Sajid Khan for one year.

In a statement, IFTDA said that acting on the recommendations of the Internal Complaints Committee’s (ICC), it has suspended Sajid’s membership for a period of one year with immediate effect, which will be reviewed after a year.

IFTDA president Ashoke Pandit said, “The reason we have set up a committee is to assure women and men that there is an avenue, which is gender neutral, for seeking redressal if they have been wronged by someone.”

“By suspending Sajid for a year, we have only tried to put forth a word that there is redressal as long as you have the courage to speak up and bring out the complete truth, better late than never,” he added.

Pandit also believes the increasing awareness about the POSH Act guidelines and the #MeTooIndia Movement have encouraged women to speak up. “It has given them the confidence to speak against sexual harassment. A complainant, who shows courage to speak against unwelcome behaviour regardless of who is the perpetrator, is not merely an object of pity or sympathy, but a survivor setting the world on fire with her truth. Now, it’s our duty to uproot such unwelcome behaviour around us,” he noted.

Sajid, who was working on his next directorial venture “Housefull 4”, had to step away from the project following the sexual harassment allegations against him.

Also Read: Sajid Khan: I have lied, I have cheated, I have deceived