Chennai:

Superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday said he was not aware of the Justice K Hema Committee and demands to set up a similar panel in Tamil Nadu.

When reporters asked him about the panel of the neighbouring state and several people demanding setting up in Tamil Nadu a panel like the Kerala’s Justice Hema Committee, he told reporters: “What? I am not aware of it, sorry.” 

The Justice Hema committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case, and its report disclosed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Thiruvananthapuram:

The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala on Saturday said that actor-cum-MLA M Mukesh need not resign from his post as legislator merely because a rape case has been registered against him.

The decision was announced by CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan at a press conference here following the party’s state committee meeting here during the day.

MV Govindan, however, said the party also decided that M Mukesh should not be part of the film-making policy committee and be removed from that in view of the allegations against him.

The CPI(M) state secretary asked that if the MLA resigns on moral ground, then will he be brought back on the same condition if he is proved innocent? “He can come back as MLA only after being elected and not on moral grounds,” he said.

MV Govindan also pointed out that there are 16 MPs and 135 MLAs in the country who are accused of committing offences against women, but have not resigned from their post.

“Therefore, there is no need for him to resign from his post as MLA,” he said.

There have been protests in various parts of the state by the Congress and the BJP and their respective youth and women wings demanding the actor’s resignation as MLA.

An FIR under IPC 376 (rape) was registered against the actor at Maradu police station in Kochi city on Wednesday night on the complaint by a woman who has appeared in a handful of movies.

She had alleged that M Mukesh sexually assaulted her years ago.

Multiple FIRs have been registered against many high profile Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment against various directors and actors in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report.

The Justice Hema Committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealing instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

Following the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation cropping up against several actors and directors, the state government on August 25 announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team to probe them.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Ernakulam, Kerala:

The lawyer of Malayalam actor and CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh has said that his client is ready to cooperate with the police investigation in the case registered against him in connection with sexual harassment allegations levelled by a woman actor.

The lawyer, Geo Paul, has also stated that the investigation team must collect as much evidence as possible, and if the allegations are found to be false, the police can file a refer report.

“He produced some evidence which I need to produce in court on Monday. He even expressed his willingness to cooperate in the investigation, he is ready to give a statement that is required by the police,” Geo Paul told ANI.

“The collection of the evidence doesn’t mean that they are going to collect the evidence in favour of the victim alone. They will collect as much evidence as possible. If it is found that her allegations are false, they can file a refer report. We are ready to cooperate, that is our stand,” he added.

The advocate also questioned the delay taken by the victim to complaint against the actor saying that she is an educated woman and should have complained immediately after the alleged incident.

“You should also realise that these allegations are coming after 15 years. Where was she? She ought to have made the complaint then and there,” he said.

The First Information Report against Mukesh was filed under Section 376 (rape), which is a non-bailable offence, Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 509 (insult the modesty of a woman by word, sound, gesture or object) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The District and Sessions Court, Ernakulam, directed the investigation officer on Thursday not to arrest him till September 3 after noting that there was no chance of him “fleeing from the clutches of law”.

Mukesh was booked on the complaint of actress Minu Muneer.

Earlier this month, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It contains shocking accounts alleging harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment of women professionals.

The report, published after redacting the names of witnesses and the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by about 10 to 15 male producers, directors, and actors who dominate and exert control over the industry.

The report of the three-member panel headed by a former judge of the Kerala High Court and set up by the state government in 2017, was submitted to the Pinrayi-led Kerala government in December 2019 and made public only this month.

Following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, there have been sexual harassment allegations against a number of actors in the Malayalam film industry.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday said that he would like to trust Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan when he said that if the victims of sexual abuses in the Malayalam film industry come forward then the process of law will be set in motion.

The Governor was reacting to the questions related to the Hema Committee report that revealed sexual abuses in the Malayalam film industry. The Opposition in Kerala has asked for an investigation into the revelations in the report.

“I think the chief minister on record said that if they come with specific complaints, the process will be set in motion. He has already said it. I am not saying anything because I do not deal with the subject,” Mr Khan said.

“But I would like to trust what the chief minister has said, that if the victims come forward and they file a complaint against those perpetrators, then the process of law will be set in motion,” he added.

The Kerala government has decided to form a special investigation team, led by a senior police officer, to investigate allegations of sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry.

“In light of recent interviews and statements from several women in the Malayalam film industry detailing the hardships they have faced, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a meeting with senior police officials here on Sunday,” said an official release from the Chief Minister’s Office.

“It was decided to form a special investigation team, led by IGP G Sparjan Kumar, to look into these complaints and revelations.

“Following the release of the Hema Committee Report last week, which revealed numerous instances of sexual abuse in the film industry, many women have come forward, reporting experiences of sexual harassment in the industry.The CMO release stated that the investigation team would include senior women police officers and operate under the supervision of Crime Branch ADGP H Venkatesh.

Last week, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report was made public, which revealed several instances of sexual harassment of female actors in the Malayalam film industry.

Earlier this week, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that if any of those who testified before the Hema Commission come forward with complaints, appropriate action will be taken.

“No matter how high-ranking, everyone will be held accountable before the law,” he said.

On Saturday, Kerala Assembly Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan demanded an investigation into the shocking allegations about the Malayalam film industry detailed in the report.

Justice Hema Committee report, based on testimonies from 51 industry professionals has revealed details about the exploitation of women, including the existence of casting couches and poor working conditions in the Malayalam film industry.

Speaking to ANI, LoP VD Satheesan, said, “The government knows the fact that a series of offences have been committed. Despite knowing all this, the government is not taking any action. They are not ready to make an investigation team. We demand the government to constitute an investigation team.”

Last week a redacted version on the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It has recorded shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation and ill-treatment of women professionals.

The 235-page report, published after redacting the names of the witnesses as well as the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is under the clutches of the about 10 to 15 male producers, directors and actors who are in the forefront and control the industry.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)