The Kerala High Court has mandated a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to extend its investigation into the Malayalam film industry by probing allegations of widespread drug and alcohol usage on film sets. This directive comes as part of the ongoing inquiry into sexual abuse allegations that have surfaced within the industry.
Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and C S Sudha, presiding over a special division bench, emphasized the need to address these allegations seriously, highlighting that such behaviors are violations of the law. The decision followed discussions around the findings of the Justice Hema Committee report, which was initiated after the notorious 2017 actress assault case and documented various instances of harassment and exploitation within the industry.
The bench underscored the importance of maintaining confidentiality and protecting the identities of the victims/survivors throughout the investigation process. According to the court’s directions, all necessary measures should be taken to ensure that no details that could reveal the identity of the victims/survivors are disclosed or made public.
The SIT, formed on August 25, has been tasked with a broad mandate that includes treating witness statements recorded by the Justice Hema Committee as formal ‘information’ under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). This approach is intended to facilitate legal proceedings based on these disclosures.
Moreover, the court acknowledged challenges in cooperation from witnesses, noting the SIT’s report that many are reluctant to restate their testimonies to the police. The justices reiterated that witnesses could not be compelled to speak but urged the SIT to continue efforts to engage with and record statements from willing participants.
