Now, #MeToo haunts filmmaker Sajid Khan, DCW seeks his removal from Bigg Boss 16

Popular TV host and film maker Sajjid Khan came under scrutiny for his past as Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Monday wrote to information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur for his removal from reality show Bigg Boss over sexual harassment allegations raised against him during the #MeToo movement.

In her letter to Thakur, the DCW chief said it is unfortunate that Khan is participating as a housemate in the new season of the reality show.

“Ten women had accused Sajid Khan of sexual harassment during the #MeToo movement. All these complaints show the disgusting mentality of Sajid. Now, this man has been given a place in Bigg Boss, which is wrong. I have written to @ianuragthakur to have Sajid Khan removed from this show,” Maliwal said in a tweet in Hindi on Monday and requested his ouster from the Salman Khan-hosted show.

“As the complaints against him reveal, it appears that Khan has acted as a sexual predator for a long time. Clearly, it is inappropriate for an alleged sexual offender such as Sajid Khan to be included in a primetime show which is watched by adults and children alike. This apparently gives him an undue opportunity to whitewash his wrongs and be re-launched amongst Indian audiences,” she said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

“The allegations against Sajid Khan are extremely serious in nature and should be investigated at the earliest. Under no circumstances such alleged sexual offenders should be promoted on national television and OTT platforms,” she reportedly said. The paper further quoted her saying: “It also disrespects and invalidates those women who spoke out against his inappropriate sexual advances. They are upcoming celebrities in Bollywood and risked their careers to come forward and complain against abuse by an authority figure.”

While sharing the Tweet, she also shared a picture of a copy of the complaint filed against Khan. The complainant’s names are not visible as it has been blurred. Khan was also suspended for a year by the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) in 2018 after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment.

The first episode of Bigg Boss’ 16th season aired on October 1.

(With agencies’ inputs)