Kyunki Balaji scriptwriter was tortured

Page

Hibernated

Posted: 19 years ago

Kyunki Balaji scriptwriter was tortured

State human rights body awards Rs 20,000 compensation to Rekha Modi, who was accused of making threatening calls to Smriti Irani. The amount will be deducted from the salary of the then investigating officer

Ruhi Khan

The Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (MHRC) on Wednesday ruled in favour of Rekha Modi, the Balaji Telefilms scriptwriter who was alleged to have made threatening calls to Bharatiya Janata Party leader and television actress Smriti Irani. The MHRC has asked that the government pay her Rs 20,000 as compensation for violation of human rights.

On March 25, 2005, the Oshiwara police arrested Modi and real estate agent Rashmikant Kapadia, 28, following a complaint filed by Irani who said the two were making threatening and abusive calls to her.

Modi claimed she was 'tortured' by the police. In a complaint filed to the MHRC after she was released on bail on June 23, 2005, Modi said she was 'illegally' called to the police station, where male police officers used a tyre-strip to whip her, forcing her to confess to a crime she had never committed.

Modi's counsel and former top cop, Y P Singh argued that the Oshiwara police had 'deliberately delayed' submitting the First Information Report (FIR) to the metropolitan court in Andheri; although the FIR was registered on March 15, it was submitted to the court only on April 2.

"Several illegal documents were prepared by the police to nail Modi and the delay in submitting the FIR to the local magistrate allowed for the possibility of manipulating it to suit the requirements of the case," the complaint said.

The MHRC has also ordered a departmental inquiry against the then assistant police inspector S Pingle, senior police inspector Manik Mate and assistant commissioner of police for 'violating Modi's human rights and for malafide intention in not sending the FIR to the magistrate the day after it was registered'.

Pingle now serves as a close officer to Deputy Commissioner of Police (zone IX) Amitabh Gupta, while Mate has been promoted to the post of assistant commissioner of police.

The order also stated that Modi be paid a compensation of Rs 20,000 by the government. The amount is to be recovered from Pingle by the government.

An elated Modi told Mumbai Mirror, "Although the events of last year cannot be easily forgotten, the MHRC order has helped soothe the pain."

"We will evaluate the legal implications of the MHRC order and if Smriti Irani is gracious enough to assume moral responsibility for the brutal devastation of human rights and publicly apologise to her, we may not pursue any legal charges against her," said Singh who also insisted that top cops should also publicly apologise for the "gravely illegal acts done by his officers on the complaint of a celebrity".

"Once we receive the MHRC order, we will investigate and depending on the report take the necessary action. We also have the option of an appeal," said Additional Commissioner of Police (West Region) Bipin Bihari.

Smriti Irani declined to comment on the issue.

MHRC's findings

• The delay in sending the FIR to the magistrate arouses suspicion

• To send an FIR to the magistrate 15 days after it was registered shows the malafide intent of the then assistant police inspector Pingle, senior police inspector Mate and assistant commissioner of police

• Police violated and disobeyed orders of the Supreme Court by arresting Modi without preparing an arrest memo in the manner required under SC directives

• The signatures of local witnesses were not taken in the panchnama

• After her arrest, Modi's relatives were not informed, contrary to the legal requirement

• Although bail was a matter of right for Modi, she was not granted bail by the police

• Modi was taken to the magistrate without granting bail and there, with the intention of tarnishing her image and damaging her dignity, she was paraded before the media

The MHRC order has helped soothe the pain, says Rekha Modi

TV actress and BJP leader Smriti Irani had filed a complaint saying Rekha threatened her

Quote

Frequent Posters

!*Ash*!

@guddusoni

Inactive

Posted: 19 years ago

thanx.... dey even showed it on ajtak..... hmmm weired

Quote

Looks like you are new here. Register for free, learn and contribute.

indiaforums1234

@indiaforums1234

Navigator

Posted: 19 years ago

For people who are not familiar with the matter: Here is some additional information:

Source: Midday.com

[quote]

Rekkha thrown out of Kyunki
By: Tushar Joshi
April 13, 2005

MAIN CHUP RAHUNGI: Despite several attempts to contact her, Smriti Irani remained unavailable for comment

After scripting the dialogues for four years on one of television's biggest soaps, Rekkha Modi has been sacked from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (Star Plus).

"She has been replaced by another dialogue writer, Anamika," confirms Shivangi, creative head for the show.

Modi, however, says it's her personal decision to stay out of Kyunki. "I don't want to be a part of anything which is associated with Smriti Irani."

Sources close to Balaji say, "Modi will never come back on Kyunki. She has sealed her own fate by her actions." A visibly hurt Modi lashes out.

I am focussing on clearing my name. I am planning to file an FIR against Smriti for breaking the law and getting me arrested
— Rekkha Modi

The Smriti I knew…

I have been one of Smriti's closest friends to date. I had no problems with her till March 23, when she gave up on our friendship and backstabbed me. I always knew she was a good actress, which is why I gave her dialogues that suited her character.
Both of us bonded really well. In fact, a day before she turned the tables on me, I called her to wish her happy birthday.

Looking back, I realise every action of hers had a hidden motive. I was no competition for her politically or professionally, then why did she do this to me?

What made Smriti insecure?

Smriti has had a problem with every new actor that came on the show. She has had insecurities about everyone from Nandini (Gauri Pradhan), Tanya (Rakshanda Khan) to Mohini (Tasneem Sheikh).

At one point, she refused to come on the sets for four days because she had a scene with Gauri. She said she couldn't play the role of a mother-in-law to someone who is the same age as her.

When Rakshanda's role was extended, she kept arguing with the creative heads about their decision. Smriti was upset over Mohini's entry as well.

When there was talk in the industry about Amar Upadhyay (the former Mihir) coming back, she called me and expressed her anxiety. Mihir's character was always more popular than her in the early days.

Once, Smriti even confessed to me that she was bored playing Tulsi and was on the look out for newer roles.

She asked me to check with the Jassi producers if they wanted her to do a cameo role in the show, since they had lot of guests entering on the show. But nobody wanted her as a lead.

They all were offering her character roles of mother and sister, which she wasn't interested in. I even spoke to Aruna Irani and many leading producers to try and secure her a role, but everyone said the same.

She realised she was playing a role much too old for her age.

Smriti isn't really a nice person…

In real life, Smriti is completely the opposite of her screen role that everyone adores her for.

She is self-centered and will do anything to have her way. She has no friends in the industry, and those who talk to her, do so more out of fear than love.

Every actor on the sets talks about her behind her back, about how much of a liability she has become for them and the serial. There are so many instances where she has tormented poor spot boys and unit members.

This one time, she had a spot boy removed from the unit because he refused to offer her tea. She would ask the writers to make changes in the script according to her whims.

When Ekta found out, she asked me to pass on the message to Smriti that no one was allowed to mess around with the script. It was getting to be too much for everyone.

Smriti's weight problems

Everyone has been talking about how fat she looks these days. She has tried hard to reduce, but is unable to. Her excuse for not doing anything about her weight is that the character she is playing needs to look obese — which is completely ridiculous.

My relationship with Ekta...

She has always been a great support. Apart from boosting my morale, she has always appreciated my work and praised it. I guess she has her own reasons for not commenting on the whole issue. I wouldn't like to drag her into this mess. Because for Ekta Kapoor, Tulsi is more of a need than a friend.

My future plans...

Right now, I am focussing on clearing my name. I am planning to file an FIR against Smriti very soon for breaking the law and getting me arrested. I have been getting lots of offers from various channels, and there is no shortage of work for people who are good at what they do.

tushar.joshi@mid-day.com

The problem between Smriti and Rekkha

Rekkha Modi had been writing dialogues for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi ever since the soap took a 20-year leap. "I first met Smriti four years ago. We were on friendly terms.

She would often suggest changes in her dialogues and tracks," she recounts.

Modi last met Irani on the actress's birthday, on March 23. "I have nothing against Smriti. A few months ago, she gave me a dressing down over her lines. I told her to request Ekta Kapoor to make the necessary changes."

According to the police, Modi wanted to settle scores with the executive producer of Kyunki…, Shadab Khan, and associate creative head Razia Rizvi. Shadab had once scolded Modi in front of the entire crew for refusing work given to her by Rizvi.

Co-accused Rashmikant Kapadia worked as a judge in one episode, but was replaced the next day. Modi told him that he was removed because of Irani.

Thereafter, she convinced Kapadia to make the calls.

She also told him to speak like a Muslim while making the calls, so that she would suspect Shadab and Rizvi.

So, Kapadia would begin and end his voice messages to Irani with a pronounced "salaam aaleikum".

Some of the threatening calls Irani received...

• March 15 (From a PCO near Andheri station)
"Aapka shooting paanch baje hai. Pehla scene Ganga (a character in the serial) ke saath hai. Again you are talking to her. He does not like it. This is an order."

• March 17 (From a PCO at Goregaon)
"Bahut naatak kiya. Tere bachche bhi jaate hain na school mein. Dekhta hoon. Itna bola toh bhi police complaint karti hai!"

• March 18 (From a PCO at Dongri)
"Bahut ho gaya, bahut ho gaya. Abhi chhaan-bin bandh karo."

[/quote]

[quote]

Rekkha Modi seeks CID help
By: Shaheen Parkar
June 27, 2005

Rekkha Modi

The Rekkha Modi-Smriti Z Irani imbroglio has taken yet another turn.

Modi, the erstwhile writer of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kahi Bahu Thi (who allegedly made threatening phone calls to the small screen's Tulsi), has asked for her case against Irani to be handed over to the CID.

"It is not possible for the Mumbai police to do justice in the case. They have failed in their duty. The investigation may be handed over to CID in Pune," she says.

I've been made a victim: Rekkha

In her petition, Modi has said the Oshiwara police station, the police commissioner and the director-general of police failed to register a FIR after she complained of wrongful confinement in police custody.

The scriptwriter has also demanded that she be awarded suitable compensation for torture in illegal custody, extorting an illegal confession and applying wrongful restraint.

"I want to set all the wrongs done to me right," says Modi. "I've been made a victim for no reason. The police have failed in their duty. Smriti is given a red carpet welcome at the police station while the cops refuse to reply to my submissions," she adds.

Files complaint with NHRC

Helping her seeking what she terms as "justice to a hapless victim" is social activist and former cop, Y P Singh. "He has helped me frame my complaints and petitions."

Earlier, Modi had filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, which has been accepted. "Acceptance means that a FIR will be filed shortly," she adds.

Modi had been writing dialogues for Kyunki... ever since the soap took a 20-year leap. She now pens lines for the Balaji show Kasautii Zindagi Kay.

Meanwhile, Iraani is away in Monte Carlo as jury member on the Monte Carlo TV Festival. She's expected to be away for a week.

shaheen@mid-day.com

What went wrong

Smriti Iraani and Rekkha Modi's inseparable friendship soured in March, when the Oshiwara police arrested Modi for allegedly making threatening and obscene calls to Iraani.

Along with Modi, police also held model coordinator Rashmi Kapadia for making the calls. The writer maintains that she was being framed.

[/quote]

Edited by indiaforums1234 - 19 years ago