Women’s commission sends summons to filmmaker Bhagyaraj

Dr M Uma Maheshwari, member of Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women said, “We have issued a summons for the actor-director to appear before the commission. The next course of action will be decided after the hearing.” Earlier this week, Andhra Pradesh State Women’s Commission’s Chairperson Vasireddy Padma wrote to the commission’s counterpart in Tamil Nadu urging legal action against the Bhagyaraj for his comments.

Recently, while talking to the media at a promotional event of a film, Bhagyaraj had stated that women invite men to sexually assault them and give them space to do such mistakes. He went on to ask why men are always blamed for assaults, while women encourage them to do so, allegedly in connection with the Pollachi sexual assault case.

His misogynistic comments received heavy backlash from the public and several women organisations had demanded action against him for the comments. The movie he was promoting is said to be inspired by the Pollachi sexual assault incident that was reported in February. The movie reportedly features awoman who was duped by a man whoshe met online.