Witness comes forward in support of Shankar Mohan son’s story

Panaji: The case where it was alleged that Arun Shankar, son of director of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi), had ‘intimidated and slapped’ a delegate during a film screening at the festival has taken a new turn with a Goan delegate writing to the festival secretariat supporting Shankar’s version of the story. The wife of A K Bir, chairman of the jury for the Indian Panorama section at Iffi, has also come forward now as the senior citizen whose chair was first hit by the complainant, Chintamani Dev, prompting Shankar to argue in her favour.
Goan delegate Suchita Nayak in her written statement has refuted the slapping allegations made by complainant Chintamani Dev against Shankar in a police complaint.
“I was present during the screening of the movie ‘Miss Julie’ at Inox screen 1 at 2pm and I was seated in the same row for the show where the alleged incident occurred…Initially, the man who reported the incident to the police was seated in the front row. After some time, he got up from his seat and went straight to the boy (Shankar) and suddenly started using abusive language. Shockingly, he snatched the mobile from the boy (Shankar) accusing him of using his phone during the movie,” Nayak has explained in her letter.
She said that Shankar requested Dev to return his phone, which he did not do.
“The boy (Shankar) forcefully took back his mobile from the man and walked out of the movie hall. I have not witnessed any incident of slapping on the part of the boy, as wrongly alleged,” Nayak said.
Both Nayak and Bir’s wife have offered to present their version before authorities in Shankar’s favour.