In what could be a new blow to the already shaky equation between the media and Pahlaj Nihalani, the chairperson of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) has filed a police complaint against reporter Himanshi Chaudhary of the news channel Mirror Now. The complaint by Nihalani alleges harassment, intimidation and breach of privacy.
However, Mirror Now editor Faye D’Souza and the reporter in question have alleged that Nihalani grabbed the girl’s arm and intimidated her at his office on Friday.
Nihalani lodged a police complaint on Friday at the Girgaum police station, accusing the reporter of “continuously harassing me in my office building premise… exceeding all levels courteous behaviour… and bullying the security guards and office staff into letting her enter my office.”
This, according to Nihalani, amounts to willful obstruction of a government employee from fulfilling his duties.
Nihalani’s Tactics Laughable: Mirror Now Editor
Speaking with The Quint in response to Nihalani’s complaint, Mirror Now Editor Faye D’Souza called his tactics “laughable” and accused him of “grabbing” the reporter’s arm.
A reporter asking questions doesn’t amount to harassing. If Mr Nihalani thinks that by filing a complaint against the reporter he can intimidate the reporter or Mirror Now, he is mistaken. Using tactics like this is laughable. We will be putting out the whole video shortly. It was Mr Pahlaj Nihalani who went on the offensive. He intimidated the 23-year-old reporter and not the other way round. He grabbed her by the arm, waved his fingers at her and misbehaved.Faye D’Souza, Editor, Mirror Now
Mirror Now and Times Now, both news channels of the Times Group, will be releasing the complete footage of the incident to clarify their stand.
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