Police tell court no proof to prosecute Patekar; Tanushree cries foul, to challenge closure report

In a relief to actor Nana Patekar, Mumbai Police has informed a local court that it has no evidence to prosecute him in a molestation case lodged against him by actor Tanushree Dutta.

Dutta, whose complaint against Patekar in October last year sparked a nationwide '#MeToo' movement on social media, expressed disappointment over the "clean chit" to him and called the police and the legal system "corrupt".

The suburban Oshiwara police on Wednesday filed a 'B Summary' report before a metropolitan magistrate in Andheri, Deputy Commissioner of Police Paramjit Singh Dahiya told PTI.

A 'B-Summary' report is filed when police do not find any evidence against the accused to file a charge sheet and seek trial.

The magistrate court is yet to pass an order on the closure report. Before accepting or rejecting the report, it will hear arguments of all parties concerned.

Dutta, in a statement issued here, said she is neither "shocked nor surprised". Her lawyer said they will oppose the police report and even move the high court against it.

"A corrupt police force and legal system giving a clean chit to an even more corrupt person Nana who has been accused even in the past of bullying, intimidation and harassment by several women in the film industry," the actor said.

Patekar had denied the allegations against him.

Dutta said she failed to understand how the 'B summary' report was filed when statements of witnesses were not yet recorded.

"Our witnesses have been silenced by intimidation, and fake witnesses have been put forth to weaken the case. What was the rush to file a 'B summary' report when all of my witnesses have not even recorded their statements yet?" she asked