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The Malayalam film industry is currently grappling with a wave of allegations of sexual misconduct, spurred by the findings of the K. Hema Committee report. This report, which was commissioned to investigate the prevalence of sexual harassment within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), has brought to light several disturbing claims, leading to investigations and legal proceedings against prominent figures in the industry. In a significant development, actor and former general secretary of AMMA, Edavela Babu, was recently interrogated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the allegations against Malayalam film personalities.
The SIT, led by Coastal AIG G. Poonkuzhali, questioned Mr. Babu at the Coastal Police headquarters in Kochi on September 25, 2024. This interrogation stemmed from a complaint filed against Mr. Babu by a woman actor who alleged that she was sexually assaulted by him. According to the petitioner, the incident took place at Mr. Babu's residence in Kaloor, where she had gone to fill out a form for AMMA membership. The Ernakulam Town North police had earlier booked Mr. Babu on various charges, including rape, based on this complaint.
While the investigation is ongoing, Mr. Babu had previously been granted anticipatory bail in the case. This development comes on the heels of actor-legislator M. Mukesh's arrest on a similar complaint. Mr. Mukesh was also questioned by the SIT on September 24, 2024, and was later released after securing an anticipatory bail. The investigations into these allegations are raising serious concerns about the prevalence of sexual misconduct within the Malayalam film industry and the need for comprehensive reform measures to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals working within the industry.
Source: Hema Committee report: SIT questions actor Edavela Babu