Kochi: The police have registered sexual assault cases against actor-turned CPM MLA M Mukesh and four other actors in the Malayalam film industry on the basis of allegations raised by women actors.
Cases were registered against Mukesh, 'Maniyanpilla' Raju and 'Edavela' Babu in Kochi and actor Jayasurya in Thiruvananthapuram. Cases were registered under various sections of the IPC including section 354 for outraging the modesty of women and 376 for rape. All the alleged incidents took place several years back.
Already cases were registered against the National Award-winning filmmaker Ranjith and actor Siddique in connection with the series of sexual assault allegations in the Malayalam film industry. More cases are likely to be registered soon against more prominent names in Mollywood.
The case against Mukesh has put the ruling CPM on the defensive as the demand for Mukesh's resignation as MLA came up even from CPI, which is a coalition partner in the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front.
CPM has been defending Mukesh, saying that the allegations against him are not proven yet. The opposition Congress is on a sticky wicket as two Congress MLAs are also facing sexual assault allegations. But the Congress, as well as BJP and many women's forums, staged stirs demanding Mukesh's resignation.
Mukesh has received temporary relief after a local court in Kochi on Thursday directed the police not to apprehend him till September 3.
A woman actor had raised sexual allegations against seven persons, including Mukesh and Jayasurya. The special investigation team (SIT) formed to probe the cases on Wednesday has recorded her statement. The cases were registered based on this recorded testimony.
So far nine cases have been registered in connection with the sexual allegations on the Malayalam film industry while over 15 petitions have been received by the SIT. The petitions also include those that seek action against actors facing sexual assault allegations.
Police have started investigating the cases. On Thursday, police verified registers of Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram where actor Siddique allegedly sexually assaulted the woman actor.