Queen Director Vikas Bahl accused of molestation in Goa, a female employee alleges

Vikas Bahl, an ace director, and fame of National Award-winning film ‘Queen’ is in a disarray currently. Bahl has been accused of sexual harassment at workplace. A young girl who was assisting Bahl has alleged that she was molested by Bahl. She said that Bahl molested her in Goa, while on a professional trip a few months ago.

The young girl who has levelled charges against Bahl works at Phantom Films. Phantom Films is an Indian film production and distribution company established by Anurag Kashyap, director Vikramaditya Motwane, producer Madhu Mantena and the former head of UTV Spotboy Vikas Bahl.

Reportedly, the young lady took her complaint to Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Madhu Mantena. As the matter was grave and needed immediate attention as it could spoil public image if the production house and also affect it’s business. The matter was then taken to Reliance Entertainment, which holds half stake in Phantom films.

A committee was constituted to resolve this issue. The young girl’s grievances were heard and recorded. After the hearing, the committee also formulated a report which engendered the accused Vikas Bahl to resign from his position. Vikas Bahl stepped down from his position in Phantom films on March 28.

“The decision needed to be taken because it was getting too much,” said one of the stakeholders. “There are not one, two or three but multiple victims. I was in the middle of a film shoot when I came to know about the first incident and I had to stop my shoot and come to Mumbai… there is (after all) a young girl on whom an intoxicated Vikas forced himself while they were in Goa. He has behaved badly in the past as well but when this specific complaint came, we needed to act on it.”

On being asked about the eventualities and how sensitive is the issue, Vikas spelled out: Nothing has happened. I am running the company. There is no complaint to HR. I have heard about this particular lady you are speaking about and the Goa incident. She is not my employee. Yes, I am friends with her, we have worked together.
“If she is feeling like this, I would like to sit across a table from her and talk to her. I want to ask her if I have crossed a line, whether I have done anything to hurt her and if she feels that way, I would like to apologise for it. I do feel a little victimised but I don’t know what to do about that,” Bahl signed off.
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