M Mukesh is not required to resign as MLA despite MeToo allegations: CPI(M)

An actor has alleged that M Mukesh sexually assaulted her several years ago. The decision was announced by CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan at a press conference following the party’s state committee meeting. The party has decided that M Mukesh should not be part of the film-making policy committee and be removed from it due to the allegations against him. MV Govindan stated that “He can come back as MLA only after being elected and not on moral grounds.”

An FIR under IPC 376 (rape) was registered against the actor at Maradu police station in Kochi city on Wednesday night based on the complaint by a woman who has appeared in a few movies. This allegation is one in a series of FIRs against many high profile Malayalam film personalities following revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report. The Justice Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case. Its report revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

In response to the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation against several actors and directors, the state government announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team on August 25th to probe them. This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.