Actor Nivin Pauly accused of gang rape amid wider scandal in Malayalam film industry

Nivin Pauly, along with five others, is facing serious charges of gang rape and related crimes, levelled by the Kerala police on Tuesday. The charges are based on a survivor’s statement recorded by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing widespread allegations of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry, as highlighted in the Hema Commission report.

The case was filed at Oonnukal police station after the survivor’s detailed report to the SIT. An FIR was registered, citing multiple IPC sections, including Section 354 (assault or use of criminal force on a woman), Section 376D (gang rape), Section 354C (voyeurism), Section 450 (offence), Section 342 (wrongful confinement), Section 376(2)(n) (repeated rape of the same woman), Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention).

Nivin Pauly has been listed as the sixth accused, with the first five being Shreya, producer AK Sunil, Binu, Basheer and Kuttan. The complainant has accused them of luring her for a film role, with the alleged incident taking place in Dubai last year. Pauly has refuted the allegations, calling them baseless on his Instagram account and expressing his determination to prove his innocence through legal channels.

The Pauly scandal is the latest in a series of high-profile cases filed against well-known personalities in the Malayalam cinema industry following the Hema committee’s findings. Other prominent figures, including filmmaker Ranjith, actor and CPI(M) MLA Mukesh, and actors Edavela Babu, Baburaj, Jayasurya and Siddique, have also been implicated in several complaints of sexual harassment.

Last month, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment of women in the Malayalam film industry was made public, revealing disturbing stories of exploitation and abuse. The 235-page document, with names of witnesses and the accused redacted, underscores the dominance and control exercised over the industry by around 10 to 15 male producers, directors and actors.

(With input from agencies.)