#MeToo: Mumbai model who claimed abuse over years gets threats from accused

Apernah Dubey

Model-turned-independent artist and songwriter Apernah Dubey, 28, who has alleged sexual abuse at the hands of a dozen influential people including a celebrity photographer, author and others over a period of years, said she has been struggling to get an FIR registered with Mumbai police.

With Dubey resorting to legal action, one of the people accused by her, Sheel Gupta, allegedly threatened her on WhatsApp. Dubey claims she is receiving ‘death threats' from international numbers.

Dubey had approached Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Zone X in Andheri East on May 10 where she submitted a 13-page complaint letter naming celebrity photographer Colston Julian and others as accused. mid-day had published a report on the same on May 11.

"I was called to Andheri police station and my statement was recorded on May 18 but the FIR was not registered," Dubey told mid-day.

An officer from Andheri police said, "The complainant has accused many people of raping and molesting her at different locations in Mumbai and other states. She also claims to have been sexually abused abroad.

"But most of the sexual harassment incidents, according to her complaint letter, have taken place in Bandra West. So after recording her statement at Andheri police station, we have sent the details to Zone IX in Bandra for further action."

Mental trauma for years

Dubey said that she underwent mental trauma during 2012-19. "I could not muster the courage to approach the police as the accused are influential. I thought of continuing my work but when I started to raise my voice against their misconduct, the group of harassers started to malign me."

"They tarnished my image in Bollywood and I stopped getting good assignments. I slipped into depression," she added.

"One of the accused spiked my drink with cocaine at a party and sexually abused me when I was high. Some of them also molested me," Dubey claimed.

"Whenever I tried to raise my voice, these people would gang up and in some cases, I had to partially succumb and allow them to sexually abuse me," she added.

"I am firm about bringing them to book but the police are delaying registering of the FIR for reasons best known to them," Dubey added.

"I have received death threats from the people I spoke against in my compliant letter. I emailed Zone IX for an update on my complaint and statement but there has been no response yet," she said.

According to Dubey, the death threats started after she uploaded a copy of her statement on Instagram. One accused also sent her a legal notice. "The gang is digging out my details from my hometown, Lucknow," she added.

Calls and messages to DCP Zone IX Abhishek Trimukhe went unanswered. While Gupta declined to comment on the matter, Ravina Rajpal, legal counsel of photographer Julian said, "We wish not to comment any further on the underlying publicity agenda behind these false accusations. We request the media to let the law take its course."

10 May
Day Apernah Dubey submitted her complaint

18 May
Day her statement was recorded