The special investigation team (SIT) probing the sexual abuse allegations in the Malayalam film industry has filed chargesheets in ten out of 90 cases filed in the past few months since the release of the Hema committee report. The latest chargesheet was filed against actor Mukesh in connection with a rape case registered against him at Maradu.

A senior police official associated with the SIT said the chargesheet submitted last week includes circumstantial evidence and communication between the actor and the survivor. The police earlier filed a chargesheet against Mukesh in another case registered at Wadakkanchery in December 2024.

ADVERTISEMENT

The case against Mukesh was filed by a female colleague, a native of Aluva, Ernakulam, who alleged that the assault took place in a hotel room in Wadakkanchery in 2011 during the production of the Malayalam film 'Naatakame Ulakam'. She claimed that Mukesh attempted to assault her physically and pushed her onto the bed. The same actor filed a complaint of rape against him at Maradu police station.

The SIT is proceeding with probe and filing chargesheets even as special leave petitions (SLP) challenging the SIT probe are being considered by the Supreme Court. The SC recently reserved judgement in three SLPs which challenged the direction issued by the Kerala High Court in October 2024  to register cases based on statements given by the women actors to the Hema committee.

ADVERTISEMENT

Maala Parvathi, one of the actors who moved the SC against the SIT probe expressed reservations in the SLP against HC's observation that statements to the committee reveal cognizable offences. According to the petition, the committee was set up to study and collect data, not to trigger criminal proceedings. As such, the statements made to the committee, being of an academic nature, cannot be considered as statements related to a cognizable offence, the petition noted.

The SC has observed that the the SIT could not unilaterally file FIRs in cases related to women who appeared before the Hema committee and gave statements but did not wish to pursue cases against alleged abusers. According to the SC bench, crime cannot be registered without evidence and in cases where witnesses do not want to come forward and furnish statements.

ADVERTISEMENT
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Onmanorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.