Leena Manimekalai accuses director Susi Ganesan of sexual harassment; actor Siddharth supports survivor

Director and anchor Leena Manimekalai has revealed that director Susi Ganesan had tried to assault her back in 2017. Manimekalai had put up a post, without naming Ganesan, in 2017 describing a harrowing account when she was travelling in a car. 

The filmmaker has now revealed in a post that it was Susi Ganesan who was the alleged abuser. The Newsminute.com quoted Manimekalai as saying, "He took the mobile phone that was on my lap, switched it off and threw it. He threatened me, asking me to come to his apartment. I was immobilised with shock for a while. First, I spoke softly and asked him to drop me immediately. I threatened to break the car door. What should have been a 20-minute ride to Vadapalani, witnessed a 45-minute roaming of the streets of Chennai [sic]." 

The documentary filmmaker said that as an anchor, she often carried a pocket knife for her own safety. Under threat from Ganesan, she used the knife to threaten harm to herself, and forced Ganesan to let her out of the car. 

"Because I had a knife, I got home that night," the Newsminute.com quoted her  as saying. 

Ganesan, meanwhile, has filed a petition against Manimekalai in the Saidapet court, Chennai, stating that the allegations are untrue. 

However, Manimekalai has received support from the actor Siddharth. In a shocking revelation on Twitter, the actor revealed that Susi Ganesan had threatened his father, and the family, of 'dire consequences'. Despite that Siddharth reiterated that he was backing Manimekalai more than ever. 

Susi Ganesan is the latest name to be added to the growing list of sexual harassment accused in the Tamil industry which includes lyricist Vairamuthu, actor Radha Ravi, singer Karthik and John Vijay.