Hema Committee Report: Filmmaker VK Prakash Gets Anticipatory Bail In Sexual Harassment Case

Hema Committee Report: On August 19, the Kerala government released the redacted version of the report which documented the sexual misconduct, harassment and other kinds of offence suffered by female artists in the Malayalam Film Industry. Soon after it was released, it created a heavy uproar in Mollywood bringing a wave of the MeToo movement. Several actresses came forward and filed an FIR against prominent figures, including Siddique, Ranjith, Jayasurya, Mukesh M and Nivin Pauly. Among all was filmmaker VK Prakash who was accused of sexual harassment by a writer.

VK Prakash released on anticipatory bail

On August 29, the Kollam Pallithottam police filed a case against actor-director Prakash under Section 354 (a) (sexual harassment) based on a complaint from a young woman writer. Soon after the writer filed her complaint, Prakash approached the Kerala High Court which granted him anticipatory bail on Thursday, September 19, per PTI. The police at Kollam Pallithottam station confirmed that the director was questioned for three consecutive days after which he was released on bail.

The director was accused by a scriptwriter who alleged that she was sexually harassed by him in April 2022. However, Prakash denied the allegations and claimed the woman fabricated the charges as he rejected her script. He further accused her of blackmailing his associates and making inappropriate advances toward him.

Incidentally, this arrest and subsequent release on bail of Prakash comes at a time when the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the Hema Committee report has found that around 20 FIRs can be registered.
Prakash is a double National Film Award winner and has to his credit successful films like Trivandrum Lodge (2012), Nirnayakam (2015) Oruthee (2022) among others.

What is the update on the MeToo movement in Mollywood?

SIT is currently probing the case. At present, those who are in the dock include actor-turned-CPI(M) legislator Mukesh Madhavan, Nivin Pauly, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyanpilla Raju, directors Ranjith and Prakash, and production executives Vichu and Noble.

Mukesh, Ranjith, Raju and a few others have already got relief from the courts from being arrested. The SIT will meet the victims and if they stick to their complaints, then FIRs will be registered.