Kerala Governor Says On Sexual Abuse Allegations In Mollywood…

Kerala decides to form special team to probe allegations of atrocities in Kerala film industry (Archive)

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday said he has confidence in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and said if victims of sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry come forward, legal process will be initiated.

The governor was responding to questions regarding the Hema Commission report that exposed sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry. The opposition in Kerala has demanded an inquiry into the revelations in the report.

“I think the prime minister has said that if they come with specific complaints, the process will be initiated. He has already said it. I am not saying anything because I am not involved in the subject,” Khan said.

“But I want to trust what the Prime Minister said, that if the victims come forward and file a complaint against the perpetrators, the legal process will be initiated,” he added.

The Kerala government has decided to set up a special investigation team, headed by a senior police officer, to probe allegations of sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry.

“Following recent interviews and statements by several women in the Malayalam film industry, in which they detailed the difficulties they have faced, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday convened a meeting with senior police officials,” an official release from the Chief Minister’s Office said.

“It was decided to set up a special investigation team, headed by IGP G Sparjan Kumar, to probe these complaints and revelations.

“After the publication of the Hema Commission report last week, which exposed numerous cases of sexual abuse in the film industry, many women have come forward and reported their experiences of sexual harassment in the industry. The CMO’s press release said that the investigation team would comprise senior female police officers and would operate under the supervision of Crime Branch ADGP H Venkatesh.

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

Earlier this week, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that if any of the witnesses before the Hema commission files a complaint, appropriate action will be taken.

“No matter how high someone is, everyone will have to answer to the law,” he said.

On Saturday, Kerala Opposition Party leader VD Satheesan demanded an inquiry into the shocking allegations about the Malayalam film industry detailed in the report.

The Justice Hema Commission report, based on testimonies of 51 industry professionals, revealed details of 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 that a series of violations have been committed. Despite knowing all this, the government is not taking any action. They are not ready to constitute an investigation team. We demand that the government constitutes an investigation team.”

Last week, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment of women in the Malayalam cinema industry was made public. The report contains shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation and abuse of women professionals.

The 235-page report, which was released after redacting the names of witnesses and accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is in the grip of about 10 to 15 male producers, directors and actors who are at the top and control the industry.

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