Upholding actor Alok Nath's claim for a bail plea, the Dindoshi sessions court noted that writer-director Vinta Nanda's delay in filing a complaint against the actor may have been done 'for her own benefit'. The 62-year old actor was granted anticipatory bail on Saturday in the ongoing case.
DNA reported that the order dated 5 January by SS Oza held the delay in the filing of the complaint as a point against Nanda. The report quotes the order as stating that while the complainant 'remember(ed) the entire incident but she did not remember the date and month of incident. In view of all these facts, the possibility cannot be ruled out that (Nath) has falsely been enroped in the crime'.
On 21 November 2018, the Mumbai police had charged Alok Nath with rape, based on the complaint filed by TV producer Nanda. The writer-director alleged that Nath had mentally harassed and then raped her 20 years ago. Nanda had repeatedly stated that she had not filed a complaint back in 1998 on the advice of her friends and family who stated that Nath was a more 'powerful' man in the industry then.
Five more women, after Nanda, had corroborated similar behaviour by the actor.
Pointing out the delay, the order reads, "If there is a delay in lodging the FIR, it loses the advantage of spontaneity, danger creeps in of the introduction of coloured version, exaggerated account or concocted story as a result of large number of consultations/deliberation (sic)."
The judge also noted that Nath had not prevented Nanda from filing a complaint, or threatened her. However, the judge pointed out Nanda as the applicant, even though it was Nath's bail plea which was the case.
The prosecution, arguing on behalf of Nanda, had stated that Nath would often appear on the sets of TV show Tara in 1998 in a 'drunken state.' When Nanda had the actor removed, he had "started harassing her by coming to her house” while “under the influence of liquor".
Nath had filed for a bail plea on 14 December.