HISAR: Actor Munmun Dutta, who stars in the TV show 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,' has been charged with using a casteist slur against scheduled caste people in a video.
Even before the case was filed, the actress said she had "apologised to every single person" who had been "unintentionally hurt" by her because of her wrong use of the word.
Dutta said she sued the wrong word "due to her language barrier," and that she was truly unaware of its context.
On the complaint of National Alliance for Dalit Human Rights convenor Rajat Kalsan, a FIR was filed against Dutta in Haryana's Hansi district.
Dutta was charged by Hansi police under various provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Dutta allegedly made derogatory remarks about people from the scheduled caste, according to the complainant.
On May 11, Kalsan filed a written complaint with the Hansi police superintendent, along with a CD containing Dutta's alleged video.
Hansi Superintendent of Police Nikita Gehlot had ordered the registration of a FIR against her after receiving the complaint.
In the Hansi city police station in the Hisar district, a case was filed against Dutta.
SHO Dalbir Singh of the Hansi city police station confirmed that a FIR had been filed against actress Dutta and that further investigations were underway.
On Monday, Dutta took to Twitter to share her side of the story.
"This is in reference to a video that I posted yesterday wherein one word used by me has been misinterpreted. It was never said with the intent of insult, intimidate, humiliate or hurt anyone's feelings. Because of my language barrier, I was genuinely misinformed about the meaning of the word," she had said in a statement, which she also shared in Hindi.
"Once I was made aware of its meaning, I immediately took the part down. I have the utmost respect for every single person from every caste, creed or gender and acknowledge their immense contribution to our society or nation," she wrote.
"I sincerely would like to apologize to every single person who has been unintentionally hurt by the usage of the word and I sincerely regret the same," she added.