Vijayan govt falters as actor-turned-CPI-M MLA faces allegations, opposition steps up attack-Telangana Today

The Vijayan government has been under fire since the much-awaited report came out. The situation worsened when two leading film stars were forced to resign after two different female actors accused them of sexual harassment.

Thiruvananthapuram:Amid the storm triggered by the sordid revelations in the Justice Hema Commission report on abuse and sexual exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry and the commission’s handling of the issue, the Pinarayi Vijayan government came under further pressure on Monday when actor and former CPI-M legislator Mukesh was accused of misconduct by a former female actor and opposition parties demanded his resignation.

The Vijayan government has been under fire since the much-awaited report came out. The situation worsened when two leading film stars were forced to resign after two different female actors accused them of sexual harassment.

Both Siddique, general secretary of AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes), and Ranjith, president of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy and a film icon, resigned from their posts on Sunday following the allegations.

As these developments were picked up by the media and opposition parties, more allegations followed, including against Mukesh.

Actress Minu Muneer on Monday said she had bad experiences with Mukesh, popular actors Manian Pillai Raju, Jayasurya and former AMMA General Secretary Edavela Babu between 2008 and 2013, following which she quit the film industry.

Both the BJP and the Congress held protests against Mukesh and their activists marched to his office and residence in Kollam demanding his resignation as a legislator.

Raju said he was recovering from the surgery and had not been able to respond earlier.

“It is natural that more and more allegations are now coming from people who were not successful in the industry. I think there should be an inquiry,” he said, referring to the case of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who also faced widespread allegations.

On Monday, popular actress Gita Vijayan said she had a bad experience with director Tulasidas in the early 1990s, but he was quick to deny any misbehavior.

“Maybe I got angry with her when she acted and that is very natural. We all remember that it was an extreme high point when we wrapped up the shooting of the film in which she acted,” Tulasidas said.

Meanwhile, AMMA joint secretary and popular actor Baburaj, who was likely to take over as secretary, got a nasty surprise when a former junior artiste said that she was invited to his house in 2019 to discuss a film plan and that sexual advances were made towards her then.

“I then filed the complaint with the police itself. Now, even though our family lives outside Kerala, I will investigate this complaint further. I got a call from a lady police officer and I told her (about it),” the former junior artiste said.

Incidentally, soon after the resignations of Siddique and Ranjith, the Vijayawada government decided to set up a high-level police team, comprising four women IPS officers and headed by a male officer.

The team, which was supposed to meet for the first time on Tuesday to decide how to proceed, held its own online meeting on Monday after more complaints surfaced. It was decided that only the female officials would meet the female complainants and record statements from them.

However, opposition leader V.D.Satheesan expressed doubts about the team.

“We have serious doubts about the Vijayan government and their sincerity in continuing the investigation. Why was it necessary to ask a male police officer to head the team? When the team was formed, there was no mention of the Hema committee, so we have our own doubts,” the Congress leader said.

Meanwhile, it is alleged that the Vijayawada government has been trying its best to protect Ranjith because of his alleged close links with the son of CPI-M state secretary M V Govindan, who is also a rising film personality.

A section of the CPI-M is also angry with Mukesh. This came to light when Minister of State for Higher Education R. Bindhu said that there is a need for an inquiry into the allegations.

“Let this happen because no innocent person should be held accountable while the wrongdoer must be brought to book,” she said.

In a related development, dubbing artist Bhagyalekshmi, known for her strong and outspoken stand on women’s rights in the film industry, said she received a call on her mobile phone and after polite conversation, the caller threatened her with dire consequences if she did not keep quiet on the issue.

“I will file a police complaint against the caller whose mobile number I have,” Bhagyalekshmi said.