Ernakulam: Actor Nivin Pauly, along with five others, has been charged by Kerala Police in connection with gang rape and related crimes. The charges were filed following the survivor's statement to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has been probing sexual harassment allegations against several prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry, as highlighted in the Hema Committee report.

Case registered

The case was registered at the Oonnukal police station based on the survivor's statement. The First Information Report was filed under IPC Sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman), 376D (gang rape), 354C (voyeurism), 450 (trespass), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376(2)(n) (repeated rape of the same woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

Pauly was named as the sixth accused in the case, with Shreya, film producer AK Sunil, Binu, Basheer, and Kuttan identified as the first five accused.

Allegations and denial

The complainant alleges that the accused lured her with promises of a film role, with the alleged offence occurring in Dubai last year.

Pauly, however, denied the allegations, calling them baseless.

"I have come across a false news report accusing me of abusing a girl. Please know that this is entirely untrue. I'm determined to go to any extent to prove these allegations baseless and will take all necessary steps to bring those responsible to light. Thank you for your concern. The rest will be handled legally," Pauly stated on his Instagram account.

The case against Pauly is the latest in a series of cases against prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry following the release of the Hema Committee report.

Filmmaker Ranjith, actor and CPM MLA Mukesh, and actors Edavela Babu, Baburaj, Jayasurya, and Siddique have also been charged with various sexual harassment complaints.

Last month, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report on the harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It contains shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation, and mistreatment of women professionals.

The 235-page 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. Agency.