Getting rape threats ever since I sought Sajid Khan’s removal from Bigg Boss: DCW chief Swati Maliwal

Maliwal had written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Monday seeking to remove Khan from the show citing the sexual harassment allegations against him.

On Wednesday, Maliwal said she has since received rape threats from Instagram users. She said on Twitter: “Ever since I wrote a letter to the I&B minister to get Sajid Khan out of Bigg Boss, I have been receiving rape threats on Instagram. Obviously, they want to stop our work.”

She sent a letter to the deputy commissioner of police (cyber crime) Prashant Gautam on Wednesday. “Ever since the Commission acted in the matter on 10.10.2022, threats are being received online on the Instagram account of the undersigned (Maliwal). In both threats, the men have stated that Sajid Khan will rape the undersigned” reads the letter.

The commission has demanded the arrest of the persons involved and asked the police to immediately lodge a case and investigate the matter.

The DCW earlier wrote to I&B Minister Anurag Thakur seeking Khan’s removal from the Bigg Boss show. “In 2018, during the #MeToo movement, over 10 actresses, models and journalists spoke out against the alleged sexual offences committed by Sajid Khan. Subsequently, he was suspended from the Indian Film and Television Directors Association from directing movies for a year. However, recently, in an apparent attempt to ‘whitewash’ his image, he has been made ‘housemate’ in the popular TV show ‘Bigg Boss’,” the letter said.

“In view of the commission, giving an opportunity for a ‘re-launch’ to an alleged sexual predator like Sajid Khan is unwarranted and sends a wrong message to society as well as to the women who risked their careers to expose him,” Maliwal added.

Senior police officers at the cyber crime unit said they are yet to receive the complaint and will take action once they receive it.