Former actress approaches Kerala HC against bail for ‘tainted’ CPI-M legislator Mukesh-Telangana Today

The former actress had the audacity to come out in public with her complaint shortly after the publication of the Justice K. Hema committee’s report on the deplorable conditions and sexual exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry on August 19. Now, she says she has decided to appeal the lower court’s verdict.

Kochi: The former actress, who filed sexual harassment charges against actor and former CPI-M MP Mukesh, on Monday said she will file a case in the Kerala High Court challenging the interim bail granted to him following the U-turn by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was formed to probe all cases following the release of the Hema Commission report. The team has decided that it will not appeal the decision, though it had earlier indicated that it had the option to challenge it.

The former actress had the audacity to come out in public with her complaint shortly after the publication of the Justice K. Hema committee’s report on the deplorable conditions and sexual exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry on August 19. Now, she says she has decided to appeal the lower court’s verdict.

The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court granted Mukesh interim bail after a long hearing on Thursday evening. There had been several protests against Mukesh by the Congress and the BJP demanding his resignation following the allegations against him. However, his party had extended its support to him.

There has been unrest in the Malayalam film industry since the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, with its explosive revelations, and it has triggered a storm of complaints against top film personalities.

Kerala Police have so far registered FIRs against 11 persons, ten of whom are from the film industry, based on complaints filed by women. Those in the dock include actors Mukesh, Nivin Pauly, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu and Maniyanpilla Raju, directors Ranjith and VK Prakash and production heads Vichu and Noble. Actor Baburaj and director Tulasidas have also been named in complaints, but no FIRs have been registered against them so far.

Meanwhile, the SIT, which comprises 7 police officers, four of whom are women IPS officers, is taking statements from the victims who have filed complaints but has not yet questioned any of the suspects.