Kerala actor accused of sexual abuse claims blackmail

Malayalam film actor Mukesh accused of sexual abuse (Dossier).

Thiruvananthapuram:

Malayalam actor and CPIM MP M Mukesh – one of the many Kerala film personalities accused of sexual abuse after the release of the Justice Hema Committee report – hit back on Tuesday, saying he was being “blackmailed” by his accuser, fellow actor Minu Muneer, and her husband. “The truth must come out… I welcome investigations into allegations against filmmakers, including myself,” he said on Facebook.

Ms Munner told NDTV on Monday that Mr Mukesh and another prominent actor, Jayasurya, had physically and verbally abused her on the sets of a film in 2013. Mukesh, she also said, had made unwanted advances when she sought his help to join a Malayalam film actors’ organisation called AMMA. “There is a lot of exploitation in this industry. I am a witness and a victim. When I moved to Chennai, no one contacted me to ask what had happened…” she told NDTV.

He demanded a “transparent investigation… to reveal the true nature of the allegations being discussed in public”. He alleged that Ms Muneer first approached him in 2009 and then in 2022, when she asked for “at least Rs 100,000” and her husband then demanded “a huge amount of money”.

READ | ‘Hugged me, kissed me’: Malayalam actor to NDTV on sexual abuse

“In 2009, a woman introduced herself as ‘Meenu Kurien’. She called herself someone who was looking for a role in a film. She called me and came to my house with photographs,” the CPIM leader said.

“When she said she wanted help with opportunities (in films)… I said I would try.”

“Later she messaged me about my polite behaviour… at no point during the meeting did she point out any deficiencies in my behaviour or express her displeasure…” Mukesh wrote in Malayalam.

He said the woman contacted him again in 2022, when she said her name was Minu Muneer.

“They (Mrs Muneer and her husband) asked me for financial help. When I expressed my helplessness, (they said) Rs 1 lakh was enough. She sent a WhatsApp message asking for this amount.”

READ | “Hoping for justice…”: Young Kerala actor claims to have been raped by actor Baburaj

Mukesh also said he received a second message in which Ms Muneer told him that “people from a particular community had been asked to intervene” because he had not paid the money.

“A few days later, another person called, claiming to be her husband, demanding a huge amount of money. This gang is constantly blackmailing me for money…” he said, accusing Ms Muneer of filing sexual abuse charges to capitalise on the sympathy generated by the Hema Commission report.

“I am revealing this on the basis of evidence regarding messages they sent me. I am not someone who conspires to harm anyone’s personality or dignity…” Mukesh said, “But I am not ready to indulge in blackmail tactics. Facts must come out against those who lay traps to ruin the lives of others.”

Amid the flood of allegations of sexual abuse, veteran actor Mohanlal stepped down as head of AMMA earlier today. The executive committee also resigned.

READ | Mohanlal quits as head of Malayalam film organisation amid ‘MeToo’ storm

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has put the matter under strict surveillance and has set up a seven-member SIT to investigate all allegations of sexual abuse.

However, that did not prevent a barrage of political attacks from the opposition BJP and the Congress-led United Democratic Front, who demanded accountability from the state government, especially as they alleged that the government wanted to keep the report secret to protect key players.

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