The National Commission for Women (NCW) has closed the case of sexual harassment filed against Anu Malik. Several women including singers Sona Mohapatra, Shweta Pandit, Caralisa Monteiro, Neha Bhasin and former Indian Idol producer Danica D’Souza had called out the music director in the wake of the #MeToo movement in India in 2018.
The NCW has shut the case as the complainant never came forward to substantiate her claim of being sexually harassed by Malik. She also never presented documents asked for by the NCW. The Commission has added that if the complainant comes forward or brings more evidence or submits documents, the case can be reopened.
Anu Malik was forced to step down as the judge of the singing reality show, Indian Idol, after the allegations against him had surfaced. The NCW wrote to Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd., the owners of the channel on which Indian Idol is aired, stating that it had closed the case due to lack of communication/substantial evidence sought from the complainant.