The SIT is also preparing to file cases under the POCSO Act for revelations that fall within its scope, without requiring the victims to re-record their statements.
Published Sep 19, 2024 | 12:19 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 19, 2024 | 12:19 PM
SIT to proceed legally based on allegations in Hema Committee report. (iStock)
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala police is planning to pursue further legal action based on the findings of the Hema Committee report.
According to sources, there are over 20 cases involving serious allegations, in which the complainants will be approached and legal action will be initiated with their consent.
During a recent meeting, the SIT decided that if these individuals provide new statements, they will take the necessary legal steps.
Meanwhile, they are also preparing to file cases under the POCSO Act (Prevention of Child Sexual Offences) for revelations that fall within its scope, without requiring the victims to re-record their statements.
The original Hema Committee report is 3,896 pages long, while the RTI applicants were provided only 296 pages. The SIT will seek assistance from the Department of Culture or members of the Hema Committee to identify those who did not reveal their identity.
Although the recorded statements have been shared with the investigation team, they cannot make copies of the document.
On 10 September, the Kerala High Court strongly criticised the state government for not taking action on the report for years now.
In the same hearing, the high court ordered the Kerala government to hand over the entire unredacted report to the SIT.
“Why wasn’t immediate action taken on the Hema Committee report,” asked the special bench comprising Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice CS Sudha on 10 September.
The seven-member SIT was formed on 30 August and is led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Poonguzhali.
The committee, which was formed after the 2017 actress assault case to look into the sexual exploitation complaints from women in the Malayalam cinema industry, gave its report to the state in 2019. However, the state didn’t act on it or even release it for four years, until it was instructed to by the apex court.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with the inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
