AUTHOR CHETAN BHAGAT ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT; ISSUES APOLOGY TO WOMAN & WIFE

Prominent author and columnist Chetan Bhagat landed into a major controversy after his name came up in the raging #MeToo debate. A woman has leaked WhatsApp conversations, accusing him of sexual harassment.

In the screenshots that have been shared online, Bhagat is trying to 'woo' the said woman, who is a journalist. Bhagat knew the woman in a "professional capacity". Ever since the conversation came out on social media, Twitter has spilled mixed reactions, some in support, while others against the author.

And it goes on. Chetan Bhagat @chetan_bhagat pic.twitter.com/xyI9tSgfMc

— 🌈 Sheena (@weeny) October 6, 2018

Soon after the conversation went viral, Bhagat took to his Facebook page to issue an apology to the concerned woman, and accepted that the screenshots were real. He said how he had also apologised to his wife for his behaviour.

In his Facebook post, Bhagat wrote, “Also, I also want to clarify that there never was nothing physical, no lewd pictures or words that were ever exchanged. I think I deleted the person’s number soon thereafter and we haven’t been in touch for years.”

"I just had not felt that kind of connection in a while. Maybe I was going through a phase, maybe these things just happen, or maybe I felt the person felt the same too based on our conversations (which I don’t need to repeat here). However, it was stupid of me, to feel that way and to even share that with her," the author added.

It is interesting to note that Bhagat was one of those people who spoke out in support of Tanushree Dutta, with regard to her accusations against actor Nana Patekar.