SIT to investigate sexual harassment in Malayalam films is 'smoke screen': BJP's V Muraleedharan

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], August 26 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister V Muraleedharan on Monday criticised the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala for setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate sexual harassment allegations against several actors in Malayalam cinema. He argued that the SIT lacks the authority to register FIRs, suggesting that the move was intended to protect the perpetrators.
"The victims of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry have spoken out... But I am surprised that the state government has decided not to take any legal action... It's been more than 48 hours since these statements were made public, yet no FIR has been registered," Muraleedharan told ANI.
He further added, "The SIT does not have the authority to register an FIR, which implies a deliberate attempt to divert public attention from the real issue and create a facade that the government is taking action, when in fact, it has decided not to."
The Kerala government has formed a Special Investigation Team, led by senior police officer IGP G Sparjan Kumar, to probe the allegations of sexual exploitation highlighted in the Hema Committee report. The team includes four women IPS officers and two senior police officials and will operate under the supervision of Crime Branch ADGP H Venkatesh.
Last week, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam film industry was made public. The report contains shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation, and mistreatment of female professionals.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan, strongly criticised the state government for delaying the release of the Hema Committee report by five years. Satheesan accused the government of "hiding" the report and attempting to "protect the culprits."
Speaking to ANI, Satheesan said, "The government has been concealing the report for nearly five years. Many actresses working in the Malayalam film industry lodged complaints with the committee, and their testimonies are documented. The report, along with a pen drive containing evidence and WhatsApp messages, has been in the government's possession for nearly five years." (ANI)