Malayalam MeToo: FIR against actors Mukesh, Jayasurya over abuse allegations
What's the story
Kerala Police have registered FIRs against Malayalam movie stars M Mukesh and Jayasurya, following allegations of physical and verbal abuse by fellow female actor Minu Muneer.
The complaints were reportedly filed under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty.
Muneer has also accused actors Maniyanpilla Raju and Idavela Babu of similar misconduct.
Allegations
Muneer alleged Jayasurya hugged, kissed her forcefully
Muneer, in her complaint, alleged that Jayasurya once hugged and kissed her forcefully as she was coming out of a toilet.
She also claimed that Babu expressed interest in a sexual relationship with her.
Additionally, she accused Raju of making inappropriate suggestions regarding her hotel accommodation.
These allegations were first shared on Muneer's Facebook page, where she detailed incidents dating back to 2013.
Detailed note
'I am writing to report a series of incidents...'
"I am writing to report a series of incidents of physical and verbal abuse I suffered at the hands of Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu, Jayasurya, Advocate Chandrasekharan, production controller Noble and Vichu," Muneer wrote on Facebook.
She added that the abuse led her to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai.
She previously claimed that the assault took place during the shooting of Calender (2009) and Nadakame Ulakam (2011).
Defense
Mukesh denies allegations; claims Muneer tried to blackmail him
Responding to the allegations, Mukesh, who is also a CPI(M) MLA from Kollam, issued a press release asserting his innocence.
He welcomed the ongoing investigations and emphasized the importance of a fair and transparent inquiry.
Mukesh also claimed that Muneer had previously sought financial assistance and attempted to blackmail him.
"This group, which has been persistently blackmailing me for money, has now turned against me," he said.
Investigation
Kerala government forms SIT to probe allegations
To investigate deeper into the matter, the Kerala government has decided to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations.
The SIT has already recorded Muneer's statement on Wednesday.
The formation of the SIT comes in light of the recent release of a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report, which outlines various cases of harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry.