Dramebaaz Rakhi Sawant files complaint against Star Plus

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent | Mumbai
Despite not winning the reality dance show Nach Baliye, Item girl Rakhi Sawant and her boyfriend Abhishek Awasthi continue to be in the news, four days after the show ended.

Sawant on Tuesday registered a complaint with the Oshiwara police station alleging that the television channel Star Plus had deliberately stopped her from winning the show by sending bogus short message service (SMS) votes in favour of her opponent from cyber cafes across the city.

Sawant and Awasthi were chosen as runners-up in the show on the basis of SMS's voting by viewers. At a press conference on Tuesday, Sawant alleged that the voting was manipulated and the channel had blocked the SMS's in her favour.

"The channel was trying to promote its own shows by ensuring victory for those who act in them," she added, referring to the winners. Sawant said she will also file a legal case against the channel and other contestants.

"I was shocked to learn that such software exists that can generate around 200 messages per second via Internet through personal computers installed at cyber cafes," she said.

Star Plus rejected the charges leveled by Sawant and dismissed them as her publicity stunt, and has demanded an public, unconditional apology from Awasthi and Sawant.

A channel insider dismisses it as another instance of Sawant's dramebaazi (she was crowned 'Dramebaaz Queen' during the grand finale). She points out that when celebrity guest Salman Khan asked both pair of contestants for one last dance, Sawant made it a point to say that if they were low on energy, it would be because both she and her beau had been fasting all day. "We haven't even had a drop of water," she insisted.

However, as soon as her act was over, Sawant called a spot boy over and asked for water. Khan observed the gesture and picking up the mike reminded her about her fast. Immediately, Sawant turned contrite and pouted, "Oh, I forgot!"

Keertan Adyanthaya, Executive Vice-president and General Manager, Star Plus said, "This is just a publicity stunt. This jodi is using the media for their own nefarious purposes. They are making allegations against Star Plus without any basis or a shred of evidence. It's a ploy for them to remain in the news. They have still not contacted the channel or the producers directly with any issues they have, but are using the media. These are all just hollow allegations."

"They are nothing but poor losers, I feel sorry for them that they have to resort to such public pleading to remain the news. It's a case of grapes are sour. As far as we are concerned, the show ended on Saturday night, but it looks like the show and its associated glitz & glamour are hard to leave behind for some people." Adyanthaya says.

"As far as the Police case goes, firstly, it is not a case against Star Plus but against some un-known parties who have allegedly voted using some software. The case is based on a newspaper report and not on any rock solid evidence. If the Police do decide to investigate, we will co-operate fully with them if they approach us. But I don't think the Police will be misled into investigating such frivolous cases." Adyanthaya adds.