Kerala: Mahila Congress workers stage protest demanding resignation of CPI(M) MP Mukesh

Mahila Congress workers staged a protest in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday to demand the resignation of Malayalam actor and CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh, against whom the police have registered a case in connection with allegations of sexual harassment by a female actor. Protesters shouted slogans against the Left Democratic Front government in the state and the actor. Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters when they tried to scale the barricades.

The First Information Report against Mukesh was filed under Section 376 (rape), which is a non-bailable offence, Sections 354 (assault or criminal coercion on woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (insulting woman by word, sound, gesture or object) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Mukesh was booked on the complaint of actress Minu Muneer.

The police also added that another FIR has been registered against actor Jayasurya on the complaint of the same actress under Section 354, which deals with intention to outrage modesty. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Wednesday recorded Muneer’s statement. The actress has accused actors Mukesh M, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju and Idavela Babu of verbally and physically abusing her during their collaboration in film projects.

Earlier this month, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee’s report on harassment of women in the Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It contains shocking accounts of alleged harassment, exploitation and abuse of female professionals. The report, published after redacting the names of witnesses and the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by around 10 to 15 male producers, directors and actors who dominate and exercise control over the industry.

The report by the three-member panel headed by a former Kerala High Court judge and constituted by the state government in 2017 was submitted to the Pinrayi-led Kerala government in December 2019 and made public only this month. Following the publication of the Justice Hema Committee report, there have been allegations of sexual harassment against a number of actors in the Malayalam film industry. (ANI)

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