In a significant legal development in Kochi, a sessions court granted anticipatory bail to actor and CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh and actor Edavela Babu on Thursday. The decision was made by Ernakulam District and Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese, who stated, “Petition is allowed,” regarding the anticipatory bail pleas of both men.
The allegations against Mukesh include rape, as claimed by a female actor who has also accused actors Babu and Jayasurya, among others, of sexual assault. Following these accusations, an FIR under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC was registered against Mukesh. He has asserted that the charges are a result of his refusal to yield to blackmail attempts by the complainant.
This case is part of a broader investigation into sexual harassment within the Malayalam film industry. The Justice K Hema Committee, established by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case, revealed multiple instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the industry.
In response to the growing number of allegations against various actors and directors, the Kerala government announced on August 25 the formation of a seven-member special investigation team to address these issues.
The court’s decision to grant anticipatory bail comes amid heightened scrutiny and multiple FIRs filed against high-profile Malayalam film personalities, reflecting the ongoing efforts to tackle sexual harassment in the industry.