A week after writer-director Vinta Nanda accused senior film and television actor Alok Nath — known for his “sanskaari” father on-screen image — of sexually violating her 19 years ago, Alok Nath filed a civil suit against her at Dindoshi sessions court here demanding an apology and compensation of Rs1.

Meanwhile, Nanda’s lawyer Dhruti Kapadia said that his client would fight the battle against Alok Nath legally. “At the moment we are awaiting the decisions of various associations where my client has filed her complaint, like Cine & TV Artistes Association (CINTAA), Screen Writers Association (SWA), and Indian Film & Television Directors Association (IFTDA). Pursuant to (their) decisions, we will decide our next step of action. It is pertinent to note my client is further humiliated in continuity for which we will take legal recourse,” said Kapadia.

In another application filed before the Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate on Saturday, Alok Nath and his wife Ashu sought a direction to the suburban Amboli police station to take cognisance of the letter sent by them seeking defamation proceedings against Nanda. As part of the application filed by her and her husband before the Andheri Court, the actor’s wife Ashu appeared before Magistrate RM Nerlikar and recorded her statement before the Magistrate and pressed for initiation of defamation against Nanda. The Magistrate has now scheduled the application for further hearing on November 1. On that day, the court is expected to record the statements of three witnesses on behalf of Alok Nath and his wife.

In their complaint filed before the Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate, Alok Nath and his wife said, “The complainants (Nath and Ashu) have on October 12 addressed a letter to the Amboli police seeking action under Sections 499 (defamation) and 500 of the Indian Penal Code against Nanda.”

On their part, the Amboli police have said that since the offences are non-cognisable in nature, they would act on Alok Nath’s letter only after the court passes an appropriate order.

In her lengthy Facebook post that she wrote last week, Nanda did not actually name Alok Nath but said that “the predator in question here is the actor par excellence who is known as the most #Sanskaari (Cultured) person in the film and television industry”.

Maintaining that “I have waited for this moment to come for 19 years,” Nanda tore into o Alok Nath, by saying, “He was an alcoholic, shameless and obnoxious but he was also the television star of that decade, so not only was he forgiven for all his bad behaviour, many of the guys would also egg him on to be his worst.” She alleged the actor even harassed the show’s lead actress.