The Kerala Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), assigned to look into the grave allegations of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry as highlighted in the Hema Committee report, has currently halted progress in the majority of the registered cases.
Officials have attributed the decision to the unwillingness of survivors to come forward and testify.
The SIT, which was formed in the aftermath of the public release of the redacted Hema Committee report in August 2024, has so far submitted chargesheets in 26 cases. However, “without survivor cooperation,” further investigative steps have stalled, say police. According to the police, investigations into charge-sheeted cases will resume only if and when survivors agree to record their statements before the court.
Altogether, 120 First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed across multiple police jurisdictions. Of these, 35 FIRs originated directly from testimonies included in the Hema Committee’s findings, while the remaining 85 were registered following a wave of disclosures by women on social media and in public forums after the report’s release.
The SIT has named prominent industry figures in its chargesheets, including actors Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Ranjith, Siddique, and Jayasurya. A senior police official connected with the investigation told OnManorama, “In cases that were recorded directly based on the Hema Committee report, there were no names. It meant we were required to gather information from survivors, and they said they did not want to proceed with the investigation. Even in other cases, survivors did not turn up to give statements, even though the court sent them notices thrice. However, we have informed the court that we will resume the investigation whenever they are ready to give statements.”
While the Kerala High Court appointed a nodal officer to monitor and handle sexual harassment complaints — including those raised by women outside the film industry — this post was only in effect until January 31, 2025. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, refused to intervene in the matter, directing the Kerala Police and SIT to proceed in cases involving cognisable offences.
The 300-page Hema Committee report, submitted to the Kerala government in 2019 but only made partially public in 2024, offered a rare and disturbing glimpse into the deeply entrenched culture of gender discrimination and harassment in Mollywood. The report emphasized that many women chose to remain silent about their abuse, fearing backlash, blacklisting, or worse. It noted how this culture of silence was rooted in fear and vulnerability, making systemic reform all the more urgent.
Reacting strongly to the current impasse, actor Parvathy Thiruvoth took to social media to express outrage over the SIT’s decision to suspend the probe. Tagging the Chief Minister’s Office, she questioned the government’s inaction. “Now can we focus on the actual reason this Committee was formed. Putting policies in place to help make regulations in the industry? What is happening with that CMO Kerala? No rush eh, it has been only five-and-a-half years since the report was submitted,” she wrote.
As calls grow louder for the government and industry to act on the committee’s recommendations, the state’s response remains slow and fragmented. Survivors, many of whom showed immense courage in breaking their silence, continue to wait for justice.
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