The #MeToo scandal that has engulfed the Malayalam film industry since the Justice Hema Committee report was released – has its first political fallout – actor Mukesh, also a CPI(M) MLA, has been dropped from a state government panel to formulate cinema-related policies.

Mukesh has been accused of sexual assault by actor Minu Muneer, who said he and another actor, Jayasurya, had abused her on the set of a movie in 2013. Mukesh, she also said, had made unwanted advances when she sought his help to join the industry’s actors’ organisation, called AMMA.

“There is a lot of exploitation in this industry. I am a witness and victim. When I moved to Chennai, nobody reached out to me, asking me what had happened…” she told NDTV.

READ | “Hugged, Kissed Me”: Malayalam Actor To NDTV On Sexual Abuse

Mukesh, in a Facebook post Tuesday, denied the allegations.

Demanding a “transparent investigation… to reveal the true nature of allegations discussed in the public”, he claimed Ms Muneer first approached him in 2009 and then in 2022, when she asked for “at least Rs 1 lakh” and her husband then demanded “a huge amount of money”.

READ | “Truth Must Come Out…”: Kerala Actor Accused Of Sex Assault Claims Blackmail

“But I am not ready to surrender to blackmail tactics. The truth must come out… I welcome inquiries into allegations against filmmakers, including myself,” he said on Facebook.

Meanwhile, amid the flood of such allegations, veteran actor Mohanlal resigned yesterday as head of AMMA. The organisation’s executive committee also quit owning “moral responsibility”.

READ | Mohanlal Quits As Malayalam Film Body Chief Amid ‘MeToo’ Storm

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, under fire from the opposition BJP and the Congress-led United Democratic Front, has set up a seven-member SIT to probe all sexual assault charges.

READ | Mollywood #MeToo: 17 Cases So Far, Actor Flags Threats After Coming Out

So far a total of 17 cases have been registered against actors and filmmakers, including Siddique and Ranjith Balakrishnan, who has been accused of molestation by Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra.

“Everyone knows about it (the sexual abuse and exploitation of women). It’s not new… in this industry, it is rampant. The problem is it has been normalised,” she told NDTV.

The three-member Justice Hema Committee was set up by the state in 2017 and filed its report in 2019. However, the report was not made public till now due to legal challenges from industry members.

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The motorcycle used by Sanjoy Roy, accused of the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has emerged as the latest flashpoint between the Opposition BJP and Kolkata Police.

Amit Malviya, head of BJP’s IT cell and co-incharge of party affairs in Bengal, put out a post in X last evening in which he said Roy used a bike registered in the name of the Kolkata Police Commissioner.

This is a massive revelation.

Sanjoy Roy, accused in the RG Kar MCH rape and murder case, as per Kolkata Police and the TMC, on the fateful night, was riding a bike registered in the name of Kolkata Police Commissioner. The same Commissioner, who called it a suicide, without…

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 27, 2024

“This is serious and needs investigation. Both Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Police Commissioner must step down immediately, for a free and fair probe,” he said.

The CBI, he said, should take them into custody, go over their phone records and subject them to polygraph test to unearth the conspiracy behind the young woman doctor’s rape and murder.

Shortly after, Kolkata Police put out a response on X. The bike used by Sanjoy Roy principal accused in the RG Kar Hospital alleged sexual assault and murder case which was seized by Kolkata Police before being handed over to the CBI, was registered in the name of the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata. Some individuals on social media are attempting to create confusion around this. To clarify, all government vehicles belonging to Kolkata Police are officially registered under the Commissioner of Police before being assigned to various units,” the force said in its reply.

pic.twitter.com/BcUEQ3U8wC

— Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) August 27, 2024

Doubling down, Mr Malviya threw a series of questions to Kolkata police, asking if “anyone can ride away of a Kolkata Police bike”.

“How did a Civic Volunteer get the bike, to be used by Kolkata Police? Can anyone ride away on a Kolkata Police bike? Or is there a rent and record for it?,” he asked.

Kolkata Police admits that Sanjoy Roy, the man they are parading as accused in the RG Kar MCH rape and murder, was actually using a bike registered in the name of Kolkata Police Commissioner.

Several questions:

– how did a Civic Volunteer get the bike, to be used by Kolkata… https://t.co/sVF9IjyDOv

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 27, 2024

The BJP leader also asked if Sanjoy Roy was framed “to protect powerful people” involved in the rape and murder of the doctor.

Multiple reports following Roy’s arrest have pointed that despite being a civic volunteer, he wielded clout no less than a cop. He roamed around on a bike that had a sticker Kolkata Police, wore a Kolkata Police t-shirt and frequently stayed at the police barracks.

READ: Facts vs Fiction On Kolkata Horror Accused: Family, Neighbours’ Account

Civic volunteers are recruited on a meagre salary as a supporting force to regular cops, but they are not entitled to the powers and perks of police personnel. However, in practice, several civic volunteers like Roy manage to cozy up to police officers and enjoy many perks they are not entitled to as per rules.

In the aftermath of the incident, questions have been raised on how Roy had unfeterred access to every corner of the state-run hospital at all times of the day. Some reports have also said he would illegally arrange hospital beds and other facilities for patients in exchange for money.

The president has addressed the growing epidemic after Telegram users were found exchanging doctored photos of underage girls. 

​The president has addressed the growing epidemic after Telegram users were found exchanging doctored photos of underage girls.