Kerala Govt Forms Panel To Probe Atrocities Against Actresses In Cinema Industry

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Sunday formed a special investigation team to probe the atrocities faced by the actresses in the regional cinema industry after several women actors stepped up and narrated their horrific sexual assault experiences in the industry. The seven-member team formed by the Kerala government will probe the allegations made by various actresses. The government’s decision to form the panel came up after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan chaired a high-level meeting with senior police officials on Sunday.

The chief minister's office said the special team would be headed by IG Sparjan Kumar and would include four senior women IPS officers in the state. "Crime Branch ADGP H Venkatesh will oversee the team's functioning," the CMO said in a statement.

Apart from Kumar, the team will include DIG S Ajeetha Begum, Crime Branch HQ SP Merin Joseph, Coastal Police AIG Poonkuzhali, Kerala Police Academy Assistant Director Aishwarya Dongre, AIG Ajith V and Crime Branch SP S Madhusoodhan.

The report by the Justice Hema Committee, constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case, has revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry, prompting calls for action against the guilty.

Rocked by the Justice K Hema Committee's explosive findings of harassment and abuse of women professionals, the Malayalam film industry on Sunday witnessed two high-profile resignations related to the issues.

Director Ranjith stepped down as chairman of state-run film academy Kerala Chalachitra Academy and actor Siddique resigned as general secretary of AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists).

Even as political pressure was building against Ranjith, actor Siddique resigned from AMMA amid voices from within his fraternity seeking his resignation.