Hema Committee Report: Jayasurya, Booked In Sexual Assault Case, Gets Anticipatory Bail

Jayasurya was among the many accused of sexual harassment by female artists in the Malayalam film industry after the Hema Committee Report was publicly published. Soon after he was booked in two cases, the actor had approached Kerala High Court to seek bail. On Monday, September 23, The state High Court closed the anticipatory bail applications moved by an actor in connection with sexual abuse allegations made against him last month as the offences are available.

Kerala High Court grants anticipatory bail to Jayasurya

Looking into the two bail applications filed by Jayasurya, it pointed out that the offences alleged against the actor were bailable offences. "In light of the above submissions, the bail applications are closed, reserving the right of the petitioner to work out his remedies in accordance with law," the High Court said.

The first case against the actor was registered in Kochi while another in the state capital city. The court, after going through the case, pointed out that the offences alleged against the actor are bailable since they were alleged to have been committed before 2013. He got relief as the sections under which he was charged were amended in 2013 to make it non-bailable.

What else do we know about the two cases filed against actor Jayasurya?

The first case was filed on August 29 acting on a complaint from a Kochi-based actress. She alleged that the actor had assaulted her during the shoot of the film Vellam. Jayasurya is yet to respond to the allegations. The second FIR was registered in Thiruvananthapuram under 354, 354A(A1)(I) 354D IPC. As per OnManorama, a female actor from Thiruvananthapuram had filed a complaint against the actor. She has accused him of sexually abusing her at a location of the Thodupuzha film set.

Ever since the Hema Committee Report brought out the pitiable condition of women in the Malayalam film industry, there has been a steady stream of complaints from yesteryear actresses against veteran actors, directors and producers in the Malayalam film industry. By now, the police have registered 11 FIRs against various film personalities after former actresses revealed to the media how they were exploited.

Presently those who are in the dock include actor-turned-CPI-M legislator Mukesh Madhavan, Nivin Pauly, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyanpilla Raju, directors Ranjith and Prakash, and production executives Vichu and Noble. Mukesh, Ranjith, Raju, VK Prakash and now Jayasurya have already got relief from the courts from being arrested.

-With Inputs From IANS-