The Kerala police is likely to end the probe over statements in the Hema committee report as the women actors and technicians who appeared before the committee are refusing to cooperate with a formal probe. According to cops, despite multiple requests, several witnesses are refusing to file a complaint with police in connection with their statements in the report.
The Kerala government had formed a Special Investigation Team to probe sexual harassment cases which came to light after the release of the Hema committee report last year and to probe incidents of sexual assault mentioned in the controversial report. However, though cases were registered based on statements in the report which was released last year, witnesses have been reportedly shying away from filing a complaint in the case.
The SIT’s probe over statements in the report came after the Kerala High Court criticised the state government heavily for inaction over the report. Though the probe was initiated by the SIT as per the Court’s direction, sources say investigators weren’t able to make major progress owing to lack of proper complaints from the witnesses who appeared before the committee. Reportedly, notices were also issued to the individuals through the Court.
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As per reports, close to 35 cases were registered based on statements in the report which brought to light poor working conditions of women in the Malayalam film industry. Probe over all these cases are likely to end and police are planning to file a report in court by the end of this month.
Earlier, an actress who appeared before the committee moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order directing probe over statements in the report. However, the Kerala Women’s Commission favoured a probe over the report in court.
The Kerala government formed a three-member committee led by former justice K. Hema to study exploitation and harassment faced by women in Malayalam cinema. Though the committee submitted its report in 2019, a redacted version of the report was released only in 2024, after much pressure from women in the industry. The government later formed an SIT to probe sexual assault complaints that surfaced after the release of the report. The SIT later initiated a probe over the statements in the report following the court’s intervention.
