Actor Mukesh's arrest recorded in sexual assault case, released on anticipatory bail

Kochi: Actor and CPM MLA Mukesh was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the sexual assault case.

He was later released on bail after his arrested was recorded. Earlier, the High Court accepted his anticipatory bail plea.

Earlier today, he appeared before SIT for questioning in the case. It is learned that he was questioned for three hours. 

Two separate cases have been filed against Mukesh, one by the Wadakkanchery Police and another by the Maradu Police. The ongoing questioning is in relation to these cases. Mukesh had earlier been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court.

The investigation into these allegations has been progressing steadily, with the SIT already having recorded detailed statements from the complainants. The team has also conducted preliminary evidence collection, leading to the current phase of questioning the accused. However, during the hearing of Mukesh's anticipatory bail plea, the court observed inconsistencies in the complainant's statements.

The accusations against Mukesh stem from a complaint filed by a young woman from Aluva. She has alleged that in 2009, she was sexually assaulted by seven individuals, including Mukesh, fellow actor Maniyanpilla Raju, and Adv. V.S. Chandrasekharan. Another woman had come forward 13 years ago, alleging that Mukesh had misbehaved with her while staying at the Nakshatra Hotel in Vadakkenchery during the filming of a movie.

The Case

An FIR under IPC 376 (rape) was registered against the actor at Maradu police station in Kochi city on the complaint by a woman who has appeared in a handful of movies.

She had alleged that Mukesh sexually assaulted her years ago. Multiple FIRs have been registered against many high profile Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment against various directors and actors in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report.

The Justice Hema Committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealing instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

Following the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation cropping up against several actors and directors, the state government on August 25 announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team to probe them.