Subhash Ghai has denied the allegations of rape against him, in a statement to Indian Express:
“As I hear some allegation made against me in the air from section of media, I state hereby to the best of my truth.
It’s very sad that it’s becoming a fashion to malign anyone known, bringing some stories from past without any truth or half-truth.
I deny strictly and firmly all false allegation like these.
I have always respected every woman in my life and at work place whatsoever. We live with dignity and respect other’s dignity always.
If she claims this way, she should go to court of law and prove it. Justice will be done. Or I will go for defamation certainly.
God bless them who are trying to harm our long-standing establishment.”
In an anonymous account shared on Twitter, a woman has detailed an incident of allegedly being drugged and raped by filmmaker Subhash Ghai. Writer Mahima Kukreja, who was one of the first women to accuse comedian Utsav Chakraborty of sexual harassment last week and has since used her Twitter to share other women’s #MeToo stories, shared the account.
In the messages adressed to Mahima, the woman describes working with Subhash Ghai on a film years ago. After showing unwanted interest in the woman, Subhash allegedly offered her a spiked drink while dropping her home in his car. The woman remembers being taken to a hotel room and assaulted before losing consciousness.
Mahima has noted the woman in question is a “very credible media/lit personality.” The woman mentions that she doesn’t want to be named because she doesn’t want it to affect her family.