Kerala High Court’s Special Bench Now Oversees Hema Committee Report with SIT Investigation
Kochi: The Kerala High Court’s special bench is now reviewing the contentious Hema Committee report on the working conditions of women in the Malayalam film industry, as the special investigation team (SIT) has been entrusted with a comprehensive probe into the matter.
The SIT, led by the Kerala Police, will begin by examining the uncensored version of the report, which had initially been redacted when released on August 19. The team will take statements from actresses who testified before the Hema Committee, and legal action will be pursued against those implicated if the testimonies remain consistent.
To date, the SIT has filed 11 FIRs against industry figures based on revelations made after the report’s release. The Kerala High Court has expressed strong criticism of the Vijayan government for its lack of action on the report, intensifying political pressure from both the Congress and BJP.
The court has mandated that the SIT submit its preliminary report later this month, with further hearings scheduled for October. It has also instructed the SIT to proceed without external pressure, avoid media trials, and refrain from disclosing details to the press.
The Justice Hema Committee, established by the Kerala government in 2017, submitted its report in 2019. Following prolonged legal disputes, the report was made public on August 19, prompting several former actresses to disclose allegations of sexual harassment against prominent industry figures.
The Kerala Police have thus far filed FIRs against 11 individuals, including notable actors and directors. Among those facing scrutiny are actor-turned-CPI(M) legislator Mukesh Madhavan, actors Nivin Pauly, Siddique, Jayasurya, and Edavela Babu, as well as directors Ranjith and Prakash, and production executives Vichu and Noble.
Mukesh, Ranjith, and Maniyanpilla Raju have received legal relief from the court as the investigation continues.
