The Malayalam film industry is being rocked by a sex abuse scandal that has taken a new turn. On August 30, the National Commission for Women requested the Kerala Chief Secretary to provide the full text of the Hema Committee Report within a week. This request follows a memorandum submitted by BJP Kerala spokesman Sandeep Vachaspati and Kerala State Committee member P.R. Sivasankar. They delivered the memorandum directly to the Delhi offices of the National Commission for Women. Commission Member Secretary Meenakshi Negi and Member Deleena Khongdup received the memorandum from the BJP leaders.
The memorandum requested the Commission to call for the full text of the Hema Committee report and appoint a Special Investigation Team to study the issues being faced by the women working in unorganised sector, including the film industry. Sandeep Vachaspati told the media that the Commission had assured them of immediate action.
Recently, the Kerala High Court reportedly directed the State Government to present the full text of a report in a sealed envelope. However, the Government did not submit the full text; instead, some portions were removed before the report was submitted on August 19. The Government justified this by stating that otherwise, it would affect the privacy of some individuals mentioned in the report and that it was in accordance with the State Information Commission’s guidelines. However, allegations arose that the Government had excluded information not requested by the State Information Commission, apparently to protect certain individuals.
Reports suggest that ten cases were registered in various police stations across the state following sexual abuse allegations made by some women from the Malayalam film industry after the release of the Hema Committee report by the government. The allegations were directed against their senior male colleagues.
Now that the National Commission for Women has sought the full version of the Hema Committee report, the accused are likely to face significant challenges. More cases are expected to emerge against additional, prominent figures in the film industry. Consequently, observers are praising Kerala BJP leaders Sandeep Vachaspati and PR Sivasankar for their strategic move.
Later on, Sandeep Vachaspati welcomed the Commission’s actions. He said the Government of Kerala was trying to hoard the Hema Committee findings. He said Government actions so far are not in conformity with the Hema Committee findings. Committee reports have pointed out POCSO and the influence of the international drug mafia in the film industry. All these anomalies have to be brought before the people. But Pinarayi Vijayan’s CPM-led Government is hoarding them.
Agitations led by the BJP, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, and Bharatiya Mahila Morcha are still rocking the state. On August 29, Yuva Morcha members staged protests in front of the Chief Minister’s residence. They demanded stringent action against the accused and the resignation of Mukesh as MLA.
Meanwhile, CPI leader Annie Raja stated that the Commission’s action was an attempt to defame the Government of Kerala. Raja’s statement contradicts her earlier demand on August 28 for the resignation of film star Mukesh, a CPM MLA, in light of the serious allegations levelled against him by his female colleagues.
