Panaji, Nov 28 (PTI) International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Director Shankar Mohan was on Friday caught in a controversy after his actor-son allegedly slapped a delegate during screening of a movie here.
The victim, Chintamani Dev, complained to the police that an unknown person slapped him inside a movie theatre. The attacker was later identified as Arun Shankar, the son of Shankar Mohan.
When contacted, Mohan confirmed the incident but said he does not know who at fault ? the complainant or his son.
“I was informed about the (slapping) incident. I don’t know whether my son is at fault or the delegate. Let it (the complaint) be investigated,” he told PTI.
“He (Arun) is here as a delegate and not in any other capacity,” the IFFI Director said.
The incident happened at around 2.30 pm when the screening of ‘Miss Julie’ was going on in INOX theatre.
The complaint was filed at a police outpost set up at the IFFI venue. According to the complaint, Dev was slapped when he asked Arun to stop using his cellphone during the screening.
After the incident, mediapersons approached Arun to take his reaction, but he refused to talk. In the meanwhile, an aged person accompanying Arun was caught on camera making obscene gesture towards the reporters.
Moreover, a girl accompanying Arun was seen without an IFFI badge which is mandatory to enter the festival complex.
Police Inspector Rajendra Prabhudesai said he has received the complaint and a probe was on.
Arun made his debut in films with Malayalam movie ‘Camel Safari’, which released this year. The model-cum-actor has also featured in many television commercials.
