Kochi: Actor Dulquer Salmaan’s production house, Wayfarer Films, has initiated legal action against chief associate director Dinil Babu, who allegedly used the company’s name to approach and sexually assault a young woman under the guise of offering her a role in an upcoming film. The production house lodged complaints with the Ernakulam Town South police and the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), accusing Babu of defaming the company in the name of a 'casting couch.'

The move comes after the woman filed a complaint with the Ernakulam Town South Police. According to her plaint, the alleged incident happened on October 11. Dinil Babu reportedly called her, claiming that a new Wayfarer Films project was about to begin, and asked her to meet him at a building near the company’s office in Panampilly Nagar. Once she arrived, he allegedly took her into a room, locked the door, and attempted to sexually assault her.

The woman stated that she was saved from the assault as her husband reached the spot in time. She also alleged that Babu threatened her, saying she would not get any more opportunities in Malayalam cinema if she refused his advances. She later submitted a voice message from Babu as part of her evidence.

The Ernakulam South Police have registered a case against Babu under Sections 74 and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment and assault with intent to outrage the modesty of a woman, and wrongful restraint. 

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Meanwhile, Wayfarer Films clarified that Babu has no association with the company and has never been part of any of its productions. The company said the legal action was taken to protect its reputation after Babu allegedly invoked its name to commit the offence.

In a statement, Wayfarer Films also appealed to aspiring actors not to fall for fraudulent casting calls, emphasising that official announcements are made only through the verified social media handles of Dulquer Salmaan or Wayfarer Films. 

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The police said that they are inquiring into the case and the accused will be questioned.

Disclaimer:

The images used in this report were not created by Malayala Manorama or any of its affiliates. It has been sourced from Facebook, where it is publicly accessible. The image is used under fair dealing provisions for the purposes of review and reporting on current affairs.

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