Actor-filmmaker Arindam Sil, facing a sexual harassment complaint levelled by an actor, was on Friday suspended by the directors’ guild.
The Directors’ Association of Eastern India (DAEI) suspended Sil for “an indefinite period” or till the time he is “cleared” of the allegations.
“Due to certain allegations made against you, and prima facie evidences we have with us, which are of deep concern and is maligning to the entire organisation, DAEI has decided to suspend you from membership for indefinite period or till the allegations against you are cleared (sic). This comes into force with immediate effect,” says the notice issued by Subrata Sen and Sudeshna Roy, the president and the secretary of
the directors’ association, respectively.
An actor has alleged that she was sexually harassed by Sil on April 3 on the sets of a film helmed by him. The actress lodged a complaint with the West Bengal Commission for Women. The commission has held two hearings, the last on Friday, following which Sil wrote an apology letter. “I accept my mistake and tender an earnest apology,” Sil said in the letter on September 6.
The suspension notice by the directors’ guild follows the letter.
The 32-year-old complainant said she had filed a complaint with the production house on April 3 and with the commission in July.
“I demanded a written apology from him at the Friday hearing,” she told Metro on Sunday.
Roy, the secretary of the guild, said: “We have suspended his membership as a punitive measure.”
Sen, the president, said: “Anyone working in the industry is usually affiliated to a guild. There is no law as such that bars the accused to work in the industry. But without being affiliated to a guild, it is difficult to get work.”
Sil said in a statement: “At the commission, I explained everything. I said for anything unintentional if my actor has felt hurt or harassed I am sorry from my heart. I was asked to remove the word unintentional from the letter.... They are now holding the letter against me. My guild didn’t even speak to me. They just took this
decision.”
“I am 100 per cent true to my conscience,” he told Metro on Sunday.
