Following art director Rajesh Sapte’s suicide, members of the Indian Film and TV Producers’ Council (IFTPC) met on Tuesday to discuss actionable measures against harassment. A member present at the meeting says, “Rajesh’s death has exposed the hafta culture. We are making strict rules regarding who can enter a set.” On July 3, before his death, the Pune-based art director made a video, accusing Rakesh Mourya, treasurer, Film Studios Setting All Mazdoor Union (FSSAMU) of harassment and extortion. It is said that Mourya threatened to disrupt Sapte’s set if he did not pay the extortion amount.

J D Majethia, chairman (TV), IFTPC, says, “Often local groups have dropped in on our sets in the name of some association or political party, and made us stop our shoot. This harassment needs to end.”

The incident has brought the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) into focus as FSSAMU falls under the cine association. Birendra Nath Tiwari, president, FWICE, is holding fort after general secretary Ashok Dubey — who was in Varanasi when his name came up in the matter — has been absconding. Tiwari says, “The allegations made against some people are yet to be proven. A police investigation is underway, and if the Federation decides on appointing new people, it will be done.” 

While Wakad police is investigating the suicide case, IFTPC members met Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale and joint Police Commissioner (crime) Vishwas Nangare Patil to discuss the extortion issue. “They will have another meeting with film bodies to chalk out a plan to protect the industry from such elements,” says a source.