FTII Backs Faculty Members on Sexual Offender List

There are no cases of complaints filed against any of these professionals, says Dean Amit Tyagi.

Not reporting sexual harassment emboldens the crime and the criminal. 

(Photo: iStock)

Even as debate continues to rage over lawyer Raya Sarkar’s 'cautionary list' of 60 professors accused of sexual harassment from across the globe, the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has backed three members of its faculty whose names are on the list. That too in the face of National Award-winning filmmaker Nishtha Jain’s recent allegations on social media against former FTII faculty Arghya Basu.

According to a report by Pune Mirror, FTII has supported the accused - Nilanjan Dutta, external faculty of editing, Sandeep Chatterjee, faculty of direction, and Arghya Basu - on the basis of lack of formal complaints.

Also read: ‘Gulabi Gang’ Dir Pens Sexual Harassment Saga Against Ex FTII Prof

“While we have taken cognisance of the list, we must emphasise that there are no cases of complaints filed against any of these professionals. Sandeep Chatterjee and Arghya Basu have a clean record. There are no formal complaints against Dutta either. Besides, we have constituted a committee based on the Vishakha guidelines.”

Amit Tyagi, dean of the film department, FTII

Tyagi added thatthe administration has also consulted a legal team, which has advised the faculty members to maintain silence on the issue in the absence of specific complaints.

(Source: Pune Mirror)

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