The Sajid Khan clamour refuses to die down. Earlier this week, Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal wrote to Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, seeking the ouster of the #MeToo-accused filmmaker from Bigg Boss 16. In response, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) said that Khan is allowed to work as he has served his punishment.

The filmmaker was banned for a year, which was lifted in March 2019. “Ek aadmi ko hum ek case ke liye ek baar hi saza de sakte hain. Not again. He has served his punishment. Now, if someone has any issue and feels more should be done, they should take the legal route,” Birendra Nath Tiwari, FWICE president, says while clarifying the intention of the letter. He adds, “One year is a long time for a director to sit at home. We formed a committee with activists and lawyers, who decided the time frame. We can’t impose a life ban.”

For writer Vinta Nanda, who accused actor Alok Nath of sexual harassment, the current reality of the small screen is a reflection of the patriarchal mindset. Nanda says, “It’s so horrifying to see that the battery of channel executives, which includes women, are making such decisions.”

Actor Kamya Panjabi aka Kamya Shalabh Dang is also hoping for a more “transparent way of dealing with such issues”, instead of playing the blame game.