Malayalam actor Mukesh arrested for rape on actress’ complaint – Telangana Today

This is the third FIR against a well-known Malayalam film personality following allegations of sexual harassment against several directors and actors

Kochi Islands: A rape case has been registered against prominent Malayalam actor and ruling CPI(M) MP M Mukesh after a woman actor accused her of sexually assaulting him years ago, police said on Thursday.

An FIR under IPC 376 (rape) was registered against the actor at Maradu police station in Kochi city on Wednesday night, a police officer said. The case was registered under the IPC as the offence allegedly took place before the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita came into effect, he said.

This is the third FIR against a well-known Malayalam film personality, following allegations of sexual harassment against several directors and actors, following revelations in the Justice K Hema commission report.

On Wednesday, the Thiruvananthapuram museum police arrested actor Sidhique for allegedly raping an actress in a hotel eight years ago.

The first case, under Section 354 of the Penal Code (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her), was against director Ranjith. The case involved a complaint by a female actor from West Bengal about an incident that took place in 2009.

She alleged that the director had touched her inappropriately for sexual purposes after he invited her to act in the film Paleri Manikyam. Following the actor’s accusation, Ranjith had resigned as the chairman of the state-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy.

Sidhique had also resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) following the allegations against him. The Justice Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government following the 2017 actress attack case and its report revealed cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

Amid allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation surfacing against several actors and directors, the state government on August 25 announced the formation of a seven-member special investigation team to probe them. Subsequently, more complaints surfaced.