Malayalam film actor Nivin Pauly arrested for rape

Kochi Islands: Actor Nivin Pauly was arrested on Tuesday for rape after a 40-year-old woman accused her, alleging that he sexually assaulted her in Dubai over a year ago, police said.

An officer from Oonnukal police station, where the FIR under Section 376 of the Penal Code was registered, said there were six suspects, including a woman, in the case.

The first suspect is a woman and Pauly is the sixth suspect, the officer said.

According to the woman, the incident took place more than a year ago in Dubai, the officer said, declining to provide further details.

Pauly is one of the many actors and directors facing allegations of sexual harassment or rape by female actors following the publication of the Justice K Hema Commission report.

The commission was set up by the Kerala government following the 2017 sexual assault case of an actress and the report that exposed cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

After allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation were made against several actors and directors, the state government on August 25 announced the formation of a seven-member special investigation team to probe the allegations.

PTI