Malayalam Actors Arrested in Sexual Assault Cases

Prominent Malayalam actors K Mukesh, Jayasurya, and Maniyanpilla Raju have been booked for sexual assault and rape allegations following a report from a female actor who claimed she was subjected to abuse by them and others in the industry. Mukesh, a CPI(M) MLA, faces a rape charge and calls for his resignation have intensified amidst political pressure. Jayasurya is accused of sexual harassment during a film shoot in 2008, with FIRs filed against him and Raju under IPC sections related to assault and harassment. The allegations have surfaced in the wake of the Hema Committee report, which exposed systemic sexual exploitation in Malayalam cinema. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the multiple claims, with at least seventeen cases registered against various film personalities since the report's release. The situation has prompted significant political and social backlash, including the resignation of key figures in the industry.