A year into India’s #MeToo movement, here’s how the cases have played out

For five of India’s most prominent accusers, the price has been steep

In October 2018, almost a year to the day after the #MeToo movement erupted in the US around film producer Harvey Weinstein, allegations of sexual harassment and assault flooded India. Women began recounting tales from years or even decades earlier, often at great risk to their reputations and safety.

For five of India’s most prominent accusers, the price has been steep. A young victim of alleged rape by a lawmaker attempted to burn herself outside the residence of her state’s chief minister, after her father died in police custody. A high-profile journalist has been sued for defamation by the man she accused. Another journalist says she has had trouble finding work. And a Bollywood actress says she feels her allegations led to real change in India, though the fallout since she first made them more than a decade ago contributed to her decision to relocate to the US, exhausted.

As for the accused men, some have remained in their jobs. Others said their reputations and careers were hurt by the allegations. Most deny wrongdoing and a few have fought back in court.

Despite the mixed record of India’s #MeToo movement, some women feel they are witnessing the beginnings of long-overdue legal and cultural shifts. “#MeToo helped some people realize how widespread molestation and harassment are,” said Karuna Nundy, an advocate in India’s Supreme Court who has worked on rape cases. “I can’t be anything but hopeful,” Nundy added. “It is these interventions that change not just the life of the individual, but also change the system for everybody else.”

#MeToo: India Today Exec Editor Gaurav Sawant accused of sexual assault

The allegations have been made by award-winning journalist Vidya Krishnan, who says that the incident happened in 2003 when she was working at The Pioneer

India Today’s executive editor and top TV anchor Gaurav Sawant has been accused of sexual assault. The allegations have been made by Vidya Krishnan, who was the health editor at The Hindu newspaper in New Delhi till last month. The case has been investigated and reported by the Caravan magazine’s Nikita Saxena.

Krishnan says that the incident took place in 2003 when she was working at The Pioneer newspaper, which was run by Chandan Mitra, a former member of parliament. The allegations include that he touched the fellow woman journalist’s breasts, asked her to bathe with him, displayed his genitals to her and physically forced her to touch his genitals.

The Wire has reached out to Gaurav Sawant, India Today, Chandan Mitra and Vidya Krishnan for responses. This report will updated as and when they do respond. In a late night tweet, Sawant said, “The article published by Caravan is irresponsible, baseless, and completely false. I am talking to my lawyers and will take full legal action. So grateful to my family, friends, and viewers for their support.”

NDTV reported the response they received from the India Today group: “The article is distressing to read. Unfortunately, we are in no position to comment on it or investigate the matter since Gaurav Sawant was not employed with us in 2003. Nevertheless, Mr. Sawant has been asked to provide an explanation. Besides dismissing the allegations entirely, he has informed us that he is consulting lawyers to seek legal remedy.”

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