Hema Committee Report – Mukesh M joins the queue, booked under rape charges

Mukesh M, an actor and CPI(M) MLA from Kollam, was charged with rape after actress Minu Muneer filed a complaint, amidst rising allegations against notable figures in the Malayalam film industry.

According to a report by The Hindu, the Kerala police have filed an FIR against the actor under BNS Section 376 (rape), a non-bailable offense as well as Section 354 (assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage a woman’s modesty ) and Section 509 ( insulting a woman’s modesty through words, sounds, gestures or objects ).

 The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also recorded the statement from the actress 

Actress Accuses Malayalam Actors of Abuse

Muneer accused actors Mukesh M, Jayasurya, Maniyanapilla Raju, and Idavela Babu of verbal and physical abuse during their collaboration on films, She had initially sought these allegations on her Facebook page with incidents dating back to 2013. 

In the Facebook post, she reported a series of physical and verbal abuse she endured at the hands of Mukesh, Raju, Babu, Jayasurya, Advocate Chandrasekaran, production controller Noble, and Vichu.

Mukesh Denies Allegations, Claims Targeting

Mukesh M addressed the allegations in a press release, asserting his innocence and stating that he was being targeted politically, similar to the previous one in 2018.

He expressed his desire to clear his name with evidence emphasizing that the accusations were false.

Mukesh has also welcomed the ongoing investigations, stressing the importance of a fair and transparent inquiry to reveal the truth behind the public allegations against him

He also claimed that Muneer had tried to blackmail him and had sought financial assistance from him.

Actress Details Harassment Incidents

Recalling her experiences, Muneer told Ani that Jayasurya hugged her from behind and kissed her forcefully as she was leaving the toilet. Following this Babu showed interest in a sexual relationship with her. She also described encounters with Raju, who made inappropriate suggestions about her hotel accommodations.

Hema Committee Report Sparks Surge in Allegations

The Malayalam film industry or Mollywood recently saw a surge in sexual abuse allegations against prominent male stars following the release of the Justice Hema Committee Report, which highlights the issues faced by women in the industry, last week.

Mollywood produces 150-200 films annually and is a vital and dynamic sector known for its critically acclaimed and progressive work. However, the 290-page report by the Hema committee outlined significant problems in the industry, such as poor working conditions, sexual harassment, and widespread discrimination.

Some sections of the report have been redacted in order to protect the identities of both survivors and those accused of harassment.

Who Is Accused From The Industry?

Filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan was the first to face charges in the current wave of allegations of sexual assault. Balakrishnan, who resigned from his role as Chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, is alleged to have assaulted Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra at his Kochi home in 2009 and to have sexually abused a male actor in 2012. Additionally, Actor Siddique recently stepped down from his role in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

AMMA had been temporarily dissolved amidst these accusations. Senior actor Mohanlal has resigned as president. Several executive committee members also resigned, citing moral responsibility in response to the allegations.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the creation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in response to escalating public outrage and media scrutiny.