The special investigation team (SIT), set up to delve into the explosive “MeToo” allegations plaguing the Malayalam movie industry, convened at the State Police Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. The meeting marks a significant step towards formulating a comprehensive investigative roadmap aimed at unraveling the complicated and emotionally charged accusations that could implicate some of the biggest names in South Indian cinema.
The SIT, comprising four distinguished women IPS officers, faces the daunting task of probing allegations that range from coercive sexual practices at workplaces to unwarranted sexual comments and propositions on film sets. At least one allegation involves the trafficking of a junior female artiste to a producer for sexual favors. These accusations began surfacing on social and mainstream media over the previous weekend, instantly igniting public outcry and leading to demands for justice from various sectors, including opposition political parties.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, found itself under intense scrutiny, prompting the swift formation of the SIT to address these grave concerns. In a move that signals its seriousness, the government has included high-ranking women officers in the investigative team to ensure a thorough and empathetic examination of the accusations.
To date, at least eight women, including aspiring actresses and scriptwriters, have come forward with their harrowing accounts. They paint a grim picture of an industry where sexual submission is perceived as a necessary evil for securing roles and projects. The accusations also highlight substandard working conditions for less privileged women in the industry, encompassing inadequate restroom facilities, unsafe accommodation, and perilous commuting conditions.
On Tuesday, several of these women took the courageous step of formalizing their grievances by lodging detailed complaints with the police, leading to the immediate registration of a First Information Report (FIR) in at least one instance in Kochi. According to the survivors, the recently published findings of the Justice K. Hema Committee—an inquiry into the endemic sexual exploitation, casting couch culture, and the entrenched patriarchy in the Malayalam film industry—served as their crucial catalyst for seeking justice after years of hesitation and fear of retaliation.
Chief Minister Vijayan’s assurance at a press conference the previous week that the government would act on specific complaints further emboldened the survivors. Armed with this promise, they have decided to come forward despite the risk of ostracization and backlash. According to some complainants, influential industry figures had attempted to discredit their claims, which only fueled their determination to seek justice.
Though industry spokespersons have criticized the timing of the allegations, raising questions about why the women did not come forward sooner, the survivors counter that powerful cliques within the industry had effectively silenced them, making it futile and risky to report the offenses at the time they occurred.
. Some industry figures have even floated conspiracy theories, suggesting that the allegations are motivated by personal vendettas or aims to extort prominent actors.
Several complainants spoke positively about their recent interactions with the women IPS officers handling the case, describing them as empathetic and supportive. One survivor mentioned that the officers acknowledged the substantial risks the women faced in coming forward and seemed to grasp how powerful industry elites had previously deprived them of the agency to lodge complaints.
A seasoned official noted that the investigation is far from straightforward. The nature of the allegations, some dating back multiple years, necessitates meticulous fact-checking and detailed scrutiny. Investigators will need to create a robust timeline of events, requiring specific dates, locations, and financial records to build an incontrovertible case. Essential pieces of evidence could include survivors’ contemporaneous statements to friends, text messages, emails, personal journals, and social media interactions. Additionally, the investigation may require testimony from actors and technicians associated with past film projects, some of which could date back over a decade.
Another officer underscored that if the first-person accounts are accurate, they reveal a clear pattern of criminal behavior, encompassing sexual exploitation, sexist language, misogynistic conduct, and assault. The investigation, chaired by State Police Chief Sheikh Darvesh Saheb, brings together a cadre of senior officers including H. Venkatesh, Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch, Inspector General of Police Sparjan Kumar, DIG Ajitha Beegum, SP, Crime Branch Headquarters Merin Joseph, AIG Coastal Police G. Poonkuzhali, SP Aishwarya Dongere, AIG Law and Order, V. Ajith, and SP Crime Branch S. Madhusoodhanan. Some officers also participated in the meeting via video conferencing.
The SIT has a monumental task ahead, not just in terms of investigation but also in restoring faith in an industry long shrouded in layers of secrecy and silence. The road ahead is fraught with challenges, but the resolve shown by the survivors and the commitment demonstrated by the SIT indicate that a determined effort is underway to bring justice to those who have long been voiceless.
