A rape case filed against actor-turned-politician and CPI(M) MLA M. Mukesh has placed the ruling party in a more difficult position. The FIR against the MLA has been registered at Maradu Police Station under IPC Section 376 (rape), a non-bailable offence. Additionally, Sections 354 and 509, which pertain to assault or criminal force intended to outrage a woman's modesty and insulting a woman's modesty through words, gestures, or acts, have also been filed against him.
Mukesh is the third high-profile figure from the Malayalam cinema industry to face an FIR in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which was triggered following the Hema committee report that exposed widespread sexual exploitation, assault and abuse within the industry. Despite the charges, Mukesh is still part of the film policy formulation committee formed by the state's culture ministry.
Since the scandal broke, Mukesh has withdrawn from public events and refrained from making statements. However, on Tuesday, he took to social media to call for an impartial investigation into the allegations against all film professionals, including himself. He also claimed that the person who accused him had attempted to blackmail him for money.
Earlier, a group of 100 prominent women cultural figures and activists released a joint statement demanding that Mukesh resign from his position as MLA and step down from the film policy committee. Prominent women leaders from the Left, including Brinda Karat and Annie Raja, also condemned Mukesh, with Raja explicitly calling for his resignation as an MLA.
However, Left Democratic Front convenor E.P. Jayarajan dismissed the demands for Mukesh's resignation, questioning whether other MLAs accused of similar offences had stepped down. He referenced the 2017 case against Congress MLA M. Vincent, who was charged with sexually abusing a 51-year-old homemaker, and the 2022 case against another Congress MLA Eldose Kunnappillil, who faced charges of rape and attempted murder. Jayarajan emphasized that these legislators did not resign and reiterated that the left government is committed to protecting women and will not shield abusers.
