FWICE's Ashoke Pandit slams Shilpa Shinde's confession of fake sexual harassment allegation: ‘Shameful and unacceptable’

TElevision worker Shilpa Shinde has been grabbing headlines since she made a shocking confession almost levelling off-key allegations of sexual torment against Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain producer. The worker has been receiving criticism for it, and now FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) chief advisor Ashoke Pandit has also condemned her revelation.Ashoke Pandit criticises Shilpa ShindeAshoke criticised Shilpa's confession and told Screen in an interview, "If what Shilpa Shinde said in the podcast is true, it deserves strong condemnation. Sexual harassment is a very serious allegation, and using it as a weapon to settle personal or professional disputes is deeply wrong. The fact that a producer may have stayed silent to keep a show running and protect the livelihoods of an entire crew does not give a free pass to a false accuser."He added, "False allegations can destroy a person’s reputation, career, and mental well-being. What is even more worrying is that such actions make it harder for genuine victims to be believed. Every false accusation weakens trust in those who come forward with real experiences. If someone chose to damage another person’s life and reputation for personal gain, it is not only shameful but completely unacceptable."What did Shilpa Shinde say?In 2016, Shilpa exited the popular sitcom Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain. Her departure sparked controversy after the producers accused her of being "unprofessional". She was also sent a legal notice asking her to resume shooting or compensate for the losses. In 2017, Shilpa accused the producers of harassment, non-payment of dues and creating a hostile work environment. The matter eventually ended in a settlement.However, in a recent conversation with comedian Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa on their podcast, Shilpa admitted that the allegations she filed against producer Sanjay Kohli were false.Explaining why she filed the complaint, Shilpa said, "The case ended. Nobody knows this, and I’m not afraid of telling the truth. Even today, I will say this because it is a big thing. I filed a sexual harassment case against my producer because I had no other option. Eventually, I got out of that situation because the matter was settled. I filed the case on that basis because the police directly tell you that if you want an FIR registered, you have to make serious allegations."She added, "I can’t explain what I was going through at that time. I fought the battle thinking, ‘To hell with all of you.’ Filing such a case after a year was very difficult for me, but I genuinely felt I had no other option. What I am saying today is a very big thing. Lying is not easy. A lie is a lie, whether it is small or big. I had told them that if life ever gave me the opportunity, I would confess that it was false."Following her confession, Hina Khan also criticised Shilpa for filing a false sexual harassment case and called it a crime. She urged the entertainment community to speak up, arguing that remaining silent only reinforces harmful stereotypes and adds another layer of stigma for women in the workplace.