The Malayalam film industry, already reeling from the revelations of the Hema Committee report, was dealt another blow on September 3 as actor Nivin Pauly found himself embroiled in a sexual assault case. The allegations, lodged by an unidentified woman, painted a stark contrast to the popular actor's clean-cut image.
Pauly vehemently denied the accusations in a press conference held shortly after the complaint surfaced. He asserted that he was the victim of a conspiracy, claiming to have no knowledge of the woman or the alleged incident. "An FIR (First Information Report) has been registered against me. I will fight it legally. I am willing to go to any lengths to prove my innocence as such fake allegations can be made against anyone. I am speaking for all of them. If I don't, such incidents will continue to happen," he declared.
The actor recounted a previous encounter with a police officer who had informed him of a similar complaint filed against him a few months earlier. Pauly stated that he had dismissed the earlier allegation as a false case, given his lack of familiarity with the complainant. He said, "The circle inspector read out the FIR to me over the phone. I explained that I did not know her. At that time, it was termed a fake case. I asked the inspector if I should file a counter complaint for a fake case. The police officer said that I shouldn't waste my time. I am yet to read the new FIR."
The woman's complaint, filed in Kerala's Ernakulam district, also implicated five others, including a film producer and several individuals associated with the industry. Following the reports, Nivin had also released a statement on social media which read, “I have come across a false news report accusing me of abusing a girl. Please know that this is entirely untrue. I’m determined to go to any extent to prove these allegations are baseless and will take all necessary steps to bring those responsible to light. Thank you for your concern. The rest will be handled legally.”
The incident has sparked widespread concern and debate within the Malayalam film industry. The Hema Committee report, released in August, had already exposed a culture of sexual harassment and abuse prevalent within the industry.
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