The Kerala film industry has been rocked by a series of sexual abuse allegations, with several prominent Malayalam actors being booked by the Kerala Police. Among those named is CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh, who has become the focal point of growing demands for his resignation.
The controversy erupted after a woman actor came forward on Monday, accusing Mukesh, along with actors Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, and Maniyanpillai Raju, as well as film production controller Noble and Congress-affiliated lawyers association leader V S Chandrasekharan, of sexual misconduct. The Kerala Police officially booked all these individuals on Thursday. Mukesh, however, dismissed the allegations as “blackmail tactics.”
In a related development, director Ranjith, who had already been accused of sexual misconduct by another woman actor earlier this week, faced fresh accusations. A man from Kozhikode filed a police complaint against Ranjith, alleging that the director sexually abused him in 2012 when he was 21 years old. The man claimed that Ranjith lured him to a hotel in Bengaluru under the pretext of offering him an acting opportunity. Ranjith has yet to respond to these new allegations.
As the calls for Mukesh’s resignation as an MLA intensified, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala defended him, arguing that there was no need for him to step down. LDF convener and senior CPI(M) leader E P Jayarajan pointed out that two sitting Congress legislators, M Vincent and Eldhose Kunnappilly, also face sexual assault charges and should resign first if Mukesh is to do the same. Jayarajan emphasized that “the law is applicable equally to all legislators.”
Meanwhile, Mukesh secured temporary relief when the district sessions court in Ernakulam stayed his arrest for five days. However, the pressure on him and the CPI(M) continued to mount. Senior CPI(M) leader K K Shailaja stated that if Mukesh is found guilty, he would not be eligible to continue as an MLA, but she also stressed that the investigation is still in its early stages, making it premature to demand his resignation.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to investigate these allegations has already begun collecting evidence and statements from witnesses. In one of the cases involving actor Siddique, the police examined the check-in register and documents at Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram, where Siddique is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman actor.
Additionally, a sexual assault case has been registered against documentary director Vineeth and movie reviewers Santhosh Varkey, Alin Jose Perera, and two others. A 34-year-old transwoman accused them of sexually assaulting her in April this year, adding another layer to the widening scandal within the Malayalam film industry.
Leave a Reply