Hema Committee fallout: Kerala police charge actors Mukesh and Jayasurya with non-bailable sexual assault offenses
Both actors have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code
Dubai: Two prominent Malayalam actors Jayasurya and Mukesh have been booked under non-bailable charges after a female actor accused them of sexual misconduct.
Kerala Police announced on Thursday that an FIR has been filed against actor Mukesh, who is also the CPI (M) MLA from the Kollam constituency. The FIR was lodged following a complaint from an actress.
Jayasurya is accused of sexually assaulting a female co-worker during the filming of the 2008 movie "De Ingottu Nokkiye." The incident is said to have occurred at the Kerala Secretariat, where the complainant was allegedly harassed as she exited the washroom.
The actress has accused actors Mukesh M, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Idavela Babu of both verbal and physical abuse during their collaborations on film projects.
Assault case against Maniyanpilla Raju, Edavela Babu
The Fort Kochi police have opened a case against Maniyanpilla Raju, while the Ernakulam North police have registered charges against Edavela Babu. Both Edavela Babu and Maniyanpilla Raju are facing charges under IPC sections 354 and 376.
The FIR alleges that Edavela Babu, former general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), sexually assaulted the actress after promising her membership in the association.
The allegations surfaced shortly after the resignation of director Ranjith and actor Siddique from their positions in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), following separate accusations against them.
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These actors have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to outraging the modesty of women, sexual harassment, and insulting modesty.
Additionally, the complainant has accused several other individuals, including other actors and a lawyer, of sexual misconduct. As investigations continue, further legal proceedings are expected to unfold.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by DIG Ajitha Beegum and AIG G. Poonkuzhali, conducted a 10-hour interview with the victim at her Kochi home. The Cantonment police have filed charges against the accused under IPC Sections 354, 354(A), and 509.
Hema Committee Row
The controversy has been further fueled by the release of a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report, which details widespread harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. The report highlights the industry's male-dominated power structure and the control exerted by a small group of individuals.
In response to public outcry and media scrutiny, the Kerala government has announced the formation of a special investigation team to probe these allegations. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the team will conduct a thorough investigation into the experiences of women in the Malayalam film industry.
With inputs from ANI