Bhubaneswar: Mahila Police today served notices on six persons belonging to the Odia cine industry asking them to appear at the police station for questioning after actress Sharmistha lodged complaint against them saying they had sought sexual favours from her.
The notices were issued to directors Chandi Parija and Tapas Sargharia, producer Bini Samal, her husband Nihar Samal, producer Subrat Naik and event manager Bapi Jena.
Meanwhile, Twin City Police Commissioner YB Khurania informed that Sharmistha has recorded her statement under Sec 161 of IPC.
Earlier in the day, producer Bini Samal, one of the six named in Sharmistha’s police complaint, told media persons, “Though around 300 artistes are working under my production house (Urmi Communication), no one has complained. Are they all bad and only the complainant wa subjected to casting couch? In fact, I came to know about the casting couch allegation only from newspapers.”
Director Chandi Parija, who was also present in the press meet, said, “Casting is not done by a producer or director for TV serials. The decision is taken solely by the channels and in this case it is Sarthak. When a director is not involved in casting an actor, how can subject someone to ‘casting couch’?”
Notably, Sharmistha had filed a complaint at the Mahila Police station against the six directors and producers alleging they had made sexual advances on her and presented Facebook and WhatsApp chats to back her claim.