The director said Nivin Pauly was on the sets of 'Varshangalkku Shesham' on both dates. The filming occurred in public spaces, and many people could confirm Nivin's presence.
Published Sep 06, 2024 | 12:31 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 06, 2024 | 12:31 PM
Rape case: Vineeth Sreenivasan and others support Nivin Pauly. (X)
Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly has received support from filmmaker and actor Vineeth Sreenivasan after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in Dubai. Vineeth Sreenivasan has come forward to defend Nivin Pauly, stating that he can prove the actor’s innocence.
In an interview with a channel, Vineeth Sreenivasan said Nivin Pauly was in Kochi, shooting for the film Varshangalkku Shesham (2024) on the dates mentioned by the complainant in her allegation.
The director-actor specified that he was with Nivin Pauly on the sets of Varshangalkku Shesham on both 14 and 15 December 2023. He added that they were together until 3 am on 15 December.
He added that the shooting took place at Kochi’s ABAD Nucleus Mall and later at Hotel Crowne Plaza, continuing until the early hours of the following day.
Vineeth Sreenivasan assured that the filming occurred in public spaces, and many people could confirm Nivin Pauly’s presence on those dates.
He also mentioned that Nivin Pauly was simultaneously shooting for his upcoming web series Pharma and adjusted his schedule to accommodate the dates for Varshangalkku Shesham.
PR Arun, the director of Pharma, also backed Vineeth Sreenivasan’s claims.
Hotel Crowne Plaza bill claiming Nivin Pauly stayed there on the said dates. (Supplied)
Vineeth Vineeth Sreenivasan stated that he could produce the bill details from Hotel Crowne Plaza where Nivin Pauly stayed. He added that he clearly remembered the dates as he had directly coordinated with the actor regarding the schedule.
Visakh Subhramanyam, the producer of Varshangalkku Shesham, stated that the hotel records for Nivin Pauly’s stay could be verified. He also confirmed that he could provide details regarding the bill.
The hotel bill, which has since been produced, shows that Nivin Pauly stayed at Hotel Crowne Plaza, Kochi, from 2.30 pm on 14 December to 4.30 pm on 15 December 2023, contradicting the woman’s allegations.
The complainant’s statement was recorded by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating sexual harassment allegations in the Malayalam film industry, following the release of a redacted version of the Hema Committee report.
Earlier, actor Bala also voiced support for Nivin Pauly when the rape allegations first surfaced.
Nivin Pauly addressed the media shortly after the allegations were reported, denying the claims of rape. He vowed to fight the charges until proven innocent, asserting that he was not hiding and did not know the woman who had accused him.
Nivin Pauly has since filed a complaint with the State Police Chief, requesting a thorough investigation into the “baseless” allegations.
A case was registered at the Oonnukal police station in Ernakulam based on the survivor’s statement to the SIT.
The First Information Report (FIR) was filed under various IPC sections, including 354 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman), 376D (gang rape), 354C (voyeurism), 450 (trespass), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376(2)(n) (repeated rape of the same woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Nivin Pauly was named as the sixth accused in the case. The other accused include Shreya, film producer AK Sunil, Binu, Basheer, and Kuttan. The complainant alleged that the accused took her to Dubai after promising her a role in a film.
According to the police report filed against Nivin Pauly, the woman claimed that Pauly sexually abused her in Dubai.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Nivin Pauly has also filed a complaint with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, calling for an investigation into what he claims is a conspiracy against him. There are reports indicating discrepancies in the statements made by the complainant, with police reportedly questioning whether the woman was even in Dubai at the time of the alleged incident.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
