The Justice Hema Committee report on sexual harassment of women in Malayalam film industry has led to #MeToo movement. Actor Jayasurya faces 2 FIRs based on complaints of two women.
Published Sep 01, 2024 | 11:58 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 01, 2024 | 11:58 AM
Jayasurya. (Jayasurya Jayan/ Instagram)
Malayalam actor Jayasurya on Saturday, 31 August, has publicly addressed the sexual harassment allegations against him, revealing his decision to pursue legal action.
This announcement comes after two cases were filed against him by female actors in the Malayalam film industry. The allegations against Jayasurya and other actors come after the release of the Justice Hema Committee report.
In a social media statement, Jayasurya declared his intent to proceed legally, stating that his legal team would handle the matter from here on. He said, “Let those who have not sinned cast stones, but only at those who have sinned.”
“Due to my personal commitments, my family and I have been in America for the past one month, and during this time, two false allegations on the grounds of sexual harassment were made against me.”
“Quite naturally, it has shattered me, my family and everyone who holds me close. I have decided to move forward with this legally,” Jayasurya said in a note put up on his Facebook page to thank all those who wished him on his birthday on August 31.
Reacting to the cases against him, Jayasurya, in his note, said, “False allegations are easy to make for anyone who lacks a conscience. I only hope one realises that facing a false accusation of harassment is just as painful as the harassment itself.
“A lie always travels faster than the truth, but I believe truth will prevail,” he added.
He said that he will return to Kerala as soon as his work in America is over and meanwhile, all the legal proceedings to prove his innocence will continue.
“I have complete faith in our judicial system,” he said and sarcastically thanked “those who contributed to making this birthday the most painful one”.
#Malayalam actor Jayasurya has publicly addressed the sexual harassment allegations against him, revealing his decision to pursue legal action.
This announcement comes after two cases were filed against him by female actors in the Malayalam film industry.
In a social media… pic.twitter.com/qmYs7KlxZK
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) September 1, 2024
The first FIR against the actor was registered on 28 August under section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Cantonment police station here on a complaint by a female actor who has appeared in a handful of movies.
She had levelled sexual abuse allegations against prominent actors M Mukesh, who is also an MLA, Jayasurya and Maniyanpilla Raju, as well as small-time actor Idavela Babu, who held a prominent role in the actors’ association, AMMA.
“In 2013, I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these individuals while working on a project. I tried to cooperate and continue working, but the abuse became unbearable,” the woman had alleged in her Facebook post.
The second case was lodged at Karamana police station in Thiruvananthapuram under sections 354 and 354 C (voyeurism) of the IPC on a complaint by another female actor who had alleged that Jayasurya molested her at a movie set near Thodupuzha during 2012-2013.
The Hema Commission report on the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry was made public on 19 August, five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government.
The publication of the Justice K Hema Committee report on harassment and abuse in the Malayalam film industry has opened a can of worms with several female actors stepping forward with disturbing accounts of the mistreatment they faced at the hands of their various male counterparts.
The Kerala government constituted the Justice Hema Committee after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.
