Kerala: Mahila Congress workers hold protest demanding CPI(M) MLA Mukesh's resignation

Protesters raised slogans against the Left Democratic Front government in the State and the actor. The police used water cannons to disperse the protesters as they attempted to climb the barricades.

Mahila Congress workers on Friday held a protest in Thiruvananthapuram demanding the resignation of Malayalam actor and CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh, against whom the police registered a case in connection with sexual harassment allegations levelled by a woman actor. Protesters raised slogans against the Left Democratic Front government in the State and the actor. The police used water cannons to disperse the protesters as they attempted to climb the barricades.

The First Information Report against Mukesh was filed under Section 376 (rape), which is a non-bailable offence, Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to women with intent to outrage her modesty), and 509 (insult the modesty of a woman by word, sound, gesture or object) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Mukesh was booked on the complaint of actress Minu Muneer.

The police also added that another FIR has been registered against actor Jayasurya on the complaint of the same actress under Section 354, which deals with intent to outrage modesty. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Wednesday took the statement of the Muneer. The actress has accused actors Mukesh M, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju and Idavela Babu of both verbal and physical abuse during their collaborations on film projects.

Earlier this month, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It contains shocking accounts alleging harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment of women professionals. The report, published after redacting the names of witnesses and the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by about 10 to 15 male producers, directors, and actors who dominate and exert control over the industry.

The report of the three-member panel headed by a former judge of the Kerala High Court and set up by the state government in 2017, was submitted to the Pinrayi-led Kerala government in December 2019 and made public only this month. Following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, there have been sexual harassment allegations against a number of actors in the Malayalam film industry. (ANI)

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