Kochi: In a shocking development, a sexual assault case has been filed against actor Nivin Pauly on Tuesday.

The alleged incident happened in 2023. The complainant, from Neryamangalam, claims that Pauly sexually assaulted her abroad under the pretext of offering her a movie role.

According to the complaint, the woman was introduced to Pauly by a female friend. The case involves Nivin Pauly, the female friend, and four other individuals.

The Oonnukal Police in Ernakulam have registered the case. The actor and the other accused face non-bailable charges. The first accused is reportedly a woman and Pauly is the sixth accused.

The woman reported the incident to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was established following the release of the Hema Committee report.

The SIT later notified the incident to Oonnukal police.

Pauly is among the many actors and directors who are facing allegations of sexual harassment or rape by female actors following the publication of the Justice K Hema Committee report.

The 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