Hema committee reports consequences: Kerala police register two cases

Sexual harassment. (iStock)

In the second case, a make-up artist complained about misconduct by another make-up artist Ratheesh Ambadi.

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SIT to investigate

The cases have been transferred to the SIT formed by the Kerala Police.

The government has appointed an SIT to investigate allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema. The SIT will take further legal action based on the findings of the Hema committee report.

Sources indicate that there are more than twenty cases with serious allegations. Complainants in these cases will be contacted and, with their consent, legal proceedings will be initiated. Further, the SIT has decided that if the individuals make fresh statements, the team will proceed with necessary legal action.

Meanwhile, they are also preparing to file cases under the POCSO (Prevention of Child Sexual Offenses) Act for disclosures falling within its ambit, without the victims having to re-record their statements.

The original report of the Hema committee consisted of 3,896 pages, while the RTI applicants received only 296 pages. The SIT will seek help from the Ministry of Culture or members of the Hema committee to identify those who have not revealed their identities.

Although the recorded statements have been shared with the investigative team, they cannot make copies of the document.

Also read: Kerala police to take legal action against more than 20 serious allegations

Hema committee report

The Kerala government formed the Justice Hema Committee following the sexual assault of actresses in 2017. Its report highlighted cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.

The release of the Justice K Hema Committee report opened a can of worms, with several female actors coming forward with disturbing stories of the abuse they faced at the hands of their various male counterparts.

The Hema Committee report was made public on August 19, five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government.

(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)