Hema Commission Report Released: A Timeline of Events in Kerala Actress Sexual Abuse Case

Members of the Hema Commission presenting the report to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in 2019. File photo

In 2017, a popular Malayalam actress came forward with allegations of kidnapping and sexual assault against her in Kochi. The Kerala police investigation team zeroed in on actor Dileep, who was arrested on charges of conspiracy to carry out the sexual assault. After the survivor identified herself on social media, the industry saw an unprecedented uproar.

A group of women working in Malayalam films came together to form the ‘Women in Cinema Collective’ to support the survivor, even as some actors expressed their anti-woman views.

Also read: K. Hema Commission Report Reveals Sexual Exploitation in Malayalam Film Industry

During the investigation, cases of evidence tampering, conspiracy and blackmail further complicated the case. Here is how the case unfolded.