Akanksha Chamola on Shilpa Shinde's false harassment case: Maybe she was cornered

Lock Upp contestant Akanksha Chamola defended Shilpa Shinde after her admission of filing a false sexual harassment complaint against producer Sanjay Kohli was discussed on the show. While most inmates called it a grave allegation, Akanksha said Shilpa may have felt "cornered" at the time.

In Short

• Akanksha Chamola defended Shilpa Shinde on Lock Upp
• Most contestants call false sexual harassment allegation serious
• Akanksha suggested Shilpa felt helpless and cornered at that time

Lock Upp contestant Akanksha Chamola came to actor Shilpa Shinde's defence on the show after the actor's admission about filing a false sexual harassment complaint against Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain producer Sanjay Kohli was discussed on the show. While most contestants called it a grave allegation that could ruin someone's life, Akanksha said Shilpa may have felt "cornered" and had no other option at the time.

During the episode, co-host Riteish Deshmukh asked the contestants to share their views on Shilpa's confession. While almost all the inmates agreed that filing a false sexual harassment case was a serious accusation with lasting consequences, Akanksha offered a different perspective.

Akanksha said, “Being a woman mujhe aisa lagta hain ki kahi na kahi woh woman itni helpless hogi ki shayad usko yahi zariya dikh raha hoga (I feel as a woman that she must have felt helpless and could not see any other way out).”

Akanksha clarified that she was not supporting Shilpa's actions. However, she said she was only trying to understand the situation, suggesting that if someone is fighting a powerful person who has significant influence, they may end up feeling "cornered".

She also pointed out that despite everything that had happened, Shilpa continues to work with the same producer.

Shilpa recently entered Lock Upp as a wild card contestant.

Last month, during a podcast with comedians Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa, she admitted that the sexual harassment complaint she had filed against producer Sanjay Kohli nearly a decade ago was false.

The actor claimed she filed the complaint after leaving Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain and not receiving her pending dues. Shilpa said she felt "cornered" at the time and saw the allegations as a last resort. She also revealed that the matter ended in a settlement and that she was eventually paid her dues.

Her revelation drew criticism from several members of the entertainment industry. Actors Pooja Bedi and Hina Khan publicly condemned her admission, while the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) also issued a statement on Instagram, calling her admission of filing false sexual harassment allegations against Sanjay Kohli a matter of "concern" for the Bollywood and television industry.

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