Singer Neha Bhasin accuses Anu Malik of predatory behaviour, calls him ‘ugly pervert’

Earlier this month, singer-composer Anu Malik was reinstated as a judge on Indian idol, a year after he was fired by Sony TV following #MeToo allegations against him by several women. The move was criticised on social media by singer Sona Mohapatra, who had accused Anu of misconduct. Sona also slammed cricketer Sachin Tendulkar for tweeting about Indian Idol without taking into consideration the #MeToo stories against its judge.

Corroborating Sona’s account, singer Neha Bhasin has spoken out against Anu Malik, accusing him of harassing her when she was 21 years old.

Replying to Sona’s tweet, Neha wrote, “I agree with you. We do live in a very sexist world. Anu Malik is a predetor, I too have run away from his strange moves when i was 21. I didn't let myself get into a sticky situation beyond him lying on a sofa in front of me talking about my eyes in a studio. I fleed lying.”

She continued, “I fleed lying my mums waiting below. He even msgd and called me after that to which i stopped responding. The point is I went to give him my cd and hope for a chance at a song. He was older and shouldnt have behaved the way he did. @The_AnuMalik  is an ugly pervert and does not.”

In following tweets, Neha called out the Indian television industry for sheltering predators and ‘normalizing sleaziness’. She recounted another incident when she was a member of the (now disbanded) pop girl group Viva, where she and her bandmates were advised to ‘wear salwar kameez’ and ‘sit away’ from Anu Malik.

“When we were in Viva we met many legendary music directors. Out of which we were warned against two by our very own management n crew and were asked to wear salwar kameez n sit away @The_AnuMalik  was one of them,” Neha wrote.

When asked by a Twitter user why she is speaking out now, Neha responded, “I left didnt i, i didnt contact him for work didnt i? I spoke to support women who he harmed much more. To stand behind them as my voice matters. In viva i complained about the seniors in the co misbehaving with me what happened? Nothing they found other ways to shame me make my."

Neha also alluded to fellow singer Swetha Pandit, who was allegedly harassed by Anu when she was still a minor.

“Shweta pandit was 15 when he misbehaved. what does a child say. The shame u feel, the fear, the confusion. Please we need to stop questioning the victim. Its time u question the criminals,” Neha wrote.

Sony Pictures International is yet to respond on the matter. The 11th season of Indian Idol started airing from October 12.