Vikas Bahl files a Rs. 10 crore defamation case against Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane

Filmmaker Vikas Bahl has filed a Rs. 10 crore defamation case against his former Phantom Films partners Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. The ‘Queen’ director, who is accused of sexual assault by a former employee of Phantom Films, sought direction from the Bombay High court to restrain the two from making any statement about him to the media or via social media.

Vikas Bahl has demanded damages of Rs 10 crore from Kashyap and Motwane as he alleged that they made “defamatory, slanderous and baseless allegations” against him due to which his reputation has been damaged. He even called his ex-partners as opportunists, who allegedly orchestrated the whole campaign against him.

The filmmaker’s plea was heard by Justice SJ Kathawalla, who asked if the parties were open to sort out the issue amicably. The court has now postponed the matter to Friday to hear the woman who has leveled allegations of sexual assault during a promotional tour in Goa for ‘Bombay Velvet’ against Vikas. Kathawalla also asked Bahl, Kashyap, Motwane and the woman to appear in person in his chamber on Friday when the matter would be heard.

Justice Kathawalla, while adjourning the matter also added that though the #MeToo movement was good, there was a need to have guidelines in place so that authorities know how to handle such cases.

Phantom Films was established in 2011 by Kashyap, Motwane, Bahl and producer Madhu Mantena. The company’s productions include ‘Lootera’, ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’ and the blockbuster ‘Queen’. Soon after Bahl was named and shamed by a former employee of Phantom Films amidst the #MeToo campaign, Kashyap and Motwane dissolved the production house.

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