In a scandal that has shaken the Malayalam film industry, actor-politician M Mukesh along with three other prominent actors have been booked in cases of rape and sexual assault, sparking a fierce political debate and calls for the ruling party MLA’s resignation.Amid intense protests by the opposition and demands from a section of Left party members for his resignation, Mukesh obtained relief from a court in Kochi, which granted him protection from arrest until September 3.
The ruling Left and the embattled MLA faced further trouble when senior CPI leader Annie Raja called for Mukesh’s resignation as an MLA, after he was booked for rape following a complaint by a female actor.
As pressure mounted, the CPI(M)-led LDF seemed to be supporting Mukesh, taking a cautious wait-and-watch stance
LDF convener E P Jayarajan told reporters that earlier, much bigger sexual assault cases were registered against two other MLAs who had not resigned.
He was referring to Congress MLAs M Vincent and Eldhose Kunnappilly.
“Had they resigned, then the third MLA (Mukesh) too would have to resign. The law is applicable equally to all legislators. By asking for Mukesh’s resignation, you are protecting the other two,” he said.
The Justice K Hema Committee report’s findings had a ripple effect, resulting in the registration of cases against two other prominent actors–Jayasurya and Maniyanpilla Raju, and Idavela Babu, a small-time actor who held a key role in the actors’ association– on sexual assault charges.