Hema Committee report effect: Jayasurya, other actors booked in sexual harassment cases

Malayalam actor Jayasurya has been booked under a non-bailable offence after a female actor recorded a statement against him before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing cases of sexual exploitation and misconduct in the Malayalam film industry.

Jayasurya has been booked under IPC sections 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman), 354A (sexual harassment), and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman). He is the latest high-profile actor to be charged with such serious offences.

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Jayasurya is reportedly in the USA and has not issued a statement addressing the damaging allegations against him. Local news channels claimed that Jayasurya declined to comment when approached.

Actress Minu Muneer accused Jayasurya of groping her on the sets of De Ingottu Nokkiye. She alleged that Jayasurya hugged her from behind and kissed her on the lips without her consent. She also claimed that Jayasurya later invited her to his flat in Thiruvananthapuram, expressing his interest in having a sexual relationship with her.

Minu Muneer also accused Maniyanpilla Raju, Mukesh, and Idavela Babu of sexually harassing her and creating obstacles in her pursuit of a career in films when she rejected their advances.

Besides Jayasurya, the police have also filed complaints against Mukesh and Maniyanpilla Raju.

Veteran actor Siddique and director Ranjith have also been booked based on complaints of sexual misconduct. While Siddique has been accused of rape, Ranjith faces allegations of misbehaving with a Bengali actress.

The Malayalam film industry was rocked by the revelation of the Hema Committee report, which painted a grim picture, including rampant abuse of power and sexual exploitation. The report has raised questions about the inherent flaws and role of the major industry players in allowing such practices to continue unchecked.

Amid the growing crisis, the executive committee of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) resigned en masse, taking moral responsibility.

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