Thiruvananthapuram/Kochi. Actor Jayasurya broke his silence on the sexual assault allegations against him, denying the allegations on Sunday and saying that these allegations have “broken” him, his family and everyone close to him. The actor, who has been in the US with his family for the past one month, said that he will face the charges legally and lawyers will attend the hearings in the cases against him until he returns.
Jayasuriya thanked all those who wished him on his birthday on August 31 and said on Facebook, “Due to personal commitments, my family and I have been in the US for the last one month and during this period two false allegations based on sexual harassment have been levelled against me.”
He said, “Naturally, it has broken me, my family and everyone close to me. I have decided to face it legally.” An actress had lodged an FIR against Jayasurya at the Cantonment Police Station here on August 28 under Section 354 (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The actress has accused famous actors M. Mukesh, Jayasurya and Maniyampilla Raju as well as Idavelu Babu of sexual harassment.
In a post on Facebook, the woman alleged, “In the year 2013, while working in a film, I had to face physical and verbal abuse from these persons. I tried to cooperate and continue working but the abuse became unbearable.” The second case has been registered at the Karamana police station here on the complaint of another female artist under sections 354 and 354 C (voyeurism) of the Indian Penal Code. The woman alleged that Jayasurya sexually harassed her on the set of a film near Thodupuzha during 2012-13.
Mammootty urges implementation of Hema committee report
Actor Mammootty on Sunday denied the existence of any ‘power group’ in the film industry and called upon all those working in the sector to be cautious so that no untoward incident takes place. In a post on the social media platform ‘Facebook’, the veteran actor praised the state government’s initiative to form the Justice Hema Committee and requested that if there are any legal hurdles, the committee’s recommendations be implemented by making necessary laws.
Breaking his silence on the report and the subsequent allegations that have rocked the film industry, Mammootty said he wholeheartedly welcomes and supports the recommendations and solutions given in the committee’s report and urged all film industry bodies to join hands in implementing them. He said the police are vigorously investigating complaints of sexual harassment and abuse made by several women and so the agency should be allowed to carry out its investigation honestly.
The actor also said that since the full report of the committee is before the court, it can decide on the punishment. Mammootty said in his post that his response was delayed because he was waiting for the organisation representing actors and its leadership to first respond to the committee’s report.
Hema Committee Report: UDF to protest outside Kerala Secretariat
Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) will hold a protest against the Left Front government in front of the Secretariat here on Monday for allegedly protecting persons mentioned in the Justice K. Hema Committee report. The Opposition will also protest against the alleged protection given by the Pinarayi Vijayan government to those who created and circulated controversial “kafir” ‘screenshots’ in Vadakara constituency during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
A statement on Sunday said that Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly V.D. Satheeshan will launch the protest in front of the Secretariat on the morning of September 2. Several prominent leaders, including UDF Convenor M.M. Hassan, KPCC President K. Sudhakaran, P.K. Kunhalikutty, P.J. Joseph, C.P. John, Anoop Jacob and Sibu Baby John, will take part in the protest, the statement said.