The arrest is in connection with the sexual assault complaint against Babu raised by a female actor. However, since Babu has secured an anticipatory bail he will be released following a medical examination.
Published Sep 25, 2024 | 4:09 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 25, 2024 | 4:53 PM
Edavela Babu.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala police investigating the alleged sexual harassment incidents in the Malayalam film industry recorded the arrest of actor Edavela Babu, who is also the former general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA).
The arrest is in connection with the sexual assault complaint against Babu raised by a female actor. However, since Babu has secured an anticipatory bail he will be released following a medical examination.
Following the release of the Hema Committee report that revealed the harassment faced by female actors in the Malayalam film industry, several actors came forward and opened up about the sexual assault incidents they had to face.
Babu was questioned for around three hours by the SIT and then his arrest was recorded.
On Tuesday, the actor turned MLA M Mukesh was also arrested in a similar fashion. He was also released against the backdrop of anticipatory bail.
However, the Kerala High Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of actor Siddique in connection with a sexual harassment complaint filed by a young female actor.
The Thiruvananthapuram Museum Police had registered a case against Siddique on 28 August, which includes charges of rape, under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code.
Justice CS Dias, who presided over the case, denied the actor’s bail application after reviewing key evidence presented by the investigation team, raising the possibility of his arrest soon. He is reportedly on the run.
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.
The publication of the Justice K Hema Committee report 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 Hema Commission report was made public on 19 August, five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government.
Following this the government appointed an SIT to probe the allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema. The SIT is set to take further legal action based on the findings of the Hema Committee report.
Sources reveal that there are over 20 cases involving serious allegations. The complainants in these cases will be contacted, and legal proceedings will be initiated with their consent. Further, the SIT decided that if the individuals provide new statements, the team will move forward with the necessary legal steps.
(Edited by Muhamed Fazil)
