In the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein reportedly hired private investigators to collect information about the women who accused him of sexual abuse and rape.

He hired executives from Black Cube, a private intelligence agency based in Tel Aviv and Israel, according to The NewYorker. It is learnt that Weinstein had also hired the services of Kroll, a corporate-intelligence company, to keep an eye on the journalists who have been circulating stories against him.

According to media reports, two investigators from Black Cube investigative agency met actress Rose McGowan, who had accused Weinstein of rape.

The two operatives with false identities approached the actress and one of them introduced himself as women's rights advocate. He then secretly recorded the entire conservation with the actress. The operative did the same thing in the next four meetings with McGowan. He then enquired about the journalist with whom McGowan spoke.

In other cases, these operatives also secured details of women who made allegations against Weinstein by meeting journalists. This way the operatives used to report back to Weinstein.

It may be recalled that McGowan was offered $1 million to keep her mouth shut about Weinstein after she alleged that the Hollywood producer had raped her.

Rose McGowan said she was offered the amount by someone close to Weinstein and while she initially bargained it to $6 million as a counter offer, she eventually decided to retract that offer.