Exclusive/ Pinarayi Govt Should Ask Mukesh To Go Home: Malavika Avinash Demands MLA's Resignation In MeToo Row

Malavika Avinash Demands Mukesh's Resignation: The findings of the Hema Committee Report have jolted Mollywood. The 235-page report details the shocking accounts of systematic sexual abuse and injustices faced by women artists in the film industry. Several actresses, and junior artists have come forward to share their ordeals and instances of sexual misconduct they faced at the workplace. Amid the massive #MeToo uproar, veteran Malayalam actress and BJP Karnataka spokesperson Malavika Avinash speaks to Republic World narrating the dark side of the industry, the prevalence of a power nexus and inequitable working conditions of women.

Malavika Avinash demands resignation of Mukesh M 

In an exclusive conversation, Malavika called the findings of the Hema Committee Report a ‘moment of truth’. She mentioned having worked with some of the actors and directors against whom official complaint cases have been registered now. However, the actress is far from surprised with the allegations. She said, “I am not surprised or shocked at the allegations made by the women for the reason that we must have that ours is a profession that is not proportionate to how you look, or how talented you are. It's based on luck. A film might work, may not work, you might have done your best job. So you have to constantly seek jobs. This is not an organised space, so everything is based on trust, on relationships. This is why women are at the receiving end of harassment, pay disparity, and all kinds of injustices.”

However, following the Hema Committee's finding what does not particularly sit well with Malavika is actor Mukesh M who continues who hold the position of MLA. Joining the massive demands for his resignation, the 48-year-old actress asserted, “Mukesh is a sitting MLA and even though there are so many allegations against him the Pinarayi government should simply ask him to go home. How can they hold on to him, how can he be a people's representative, how can he be a neta if has tormented these women?”

Malavika Avinash shares horrifying details from Mukesh's past 

Revealing shocking details, Malavika asserted that the women who have accused him after the Hema Committee Report, but she has known his pattern of abuse for a long. She shared that Mukesh's ex-wife Saritha, who she is good friends with, detailed horrific instances of physical and verbal abuse with her. She shared, “It is not just these women who are speaking up now, after the Hema Committee Report, his former wife also had so many stories to tell about him - of violence, of the manner in which he treated her, physically abused her, verbally abused her, literally threw her out of his house. I am appalled that he is still sitting MLA.”

The First Information Report against Mukesh was filed under Section 376 (rape), which is a non-bailable offence, Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 509 (insult the modesty of a woman by word, sound, gesture or object) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The District and Sessions Court, Ernakulam, directed the investigation officer on Thursday not to arrest him till September 3 after noting that there was no chance of him "fleeing from the clutches of law". Mukesh was booked on the complaint of actress Minu Muneer.