TMKOC fame Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal expresses disappointment in the verdict of the sexual harassment case

Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, renowned for her role as Roshan Sodhi in the beloved TV series Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, made waves with allegations against the show's producer, Asit Kumar Modi, for workplace sexual harassment. Last year, she filed a case against Asit Kumar Modi, along with Sohil Ramani and Jatin Ramani, on charges of sexual harassment.

After receiving no response from the Mumbai police despite repeated follow-ups, Jennifer sought assistance from The Government of Maharashtra. With the establishment of the Local Complaints Committee, there was swift progress, culminating in Asit Kumar Modi being found guilty within four months under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act of 2013.

In a conversation with Etimes, Jennifer Mistry delved deeper into the matter and confirmed the developments. Jennifer has opened up about the issue, expressing her mixed emotions regarding the case's outcome. While she views it as a victory, she also harbours disappointment with the overall result.

The formation of the Local Complaints Committee led to a swift resolution, with Asit Kumar Modi found guilty within four months under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act of 2013. However, Jennifer expressed regret that the police authorities hadn't achieved this in the past year. She believes the verdict in her favour confirms the allegations she made, backed by strong evidence.

Jennifer reveals that Asit Kumar Modi has been instructed to pay her rightful dues along with additional compensation for intentionally withholding her payment, totalling around Rs 25-30 lakh. An additional Rs 5 lakh has been imposed on Mr Modi for harassment. Despite the verdict being delivered on 15th Feb 2024, Jennifer refrained from disclosing it to the media initially, emphasising the importance of a woman's reputation.

However, it's been over 40 days since the verdict, and Jennifer is yet to receive her due amount, which she earned through hard work on the serial. She also expressed disappointment that no punishment has been meted out to all three accused. 

Jennifer expressed mixed emotions, acknowledging the acknowledgement of her harassment but feeling that proper justice has not been served yet. While Mr. Modi was found guilty, no punishment has been enforced. Sohil Ramani and Jatin Bajaj, who also committed similar offences, were not addressed in the verdict. Furthermore, she adds that the verdict does not mandate apologies from Mr. Modi, Sohil, and Jatin despite their misconduct towards her in the workplace.

Additionally, Jennifer emphasised the significance of her victory after fighting alone for a year, guided by her lawyer Ammitt Khare from Nagpur. She hopes her experience will inspire other women facing mistreatment to speak up. However, she feels that the compensation does not fully account for her mental trauma, reputation damage, loss of employment, and medical expenses.

Jennifer affirmed her determination to continue the fight for justice, supported by her lawyer, husband, family, and friends. She reflected on the challenges ordinary women might face in seeking justice, underscoring the importance of continued advocacy.