KOCHI: The Kerala Police on Tuesday booked popular Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly, producer AK Sunil, and four others under Section 376 (rape) and other relevant sections following a woman's complaint alleging sexual assault. Pauly has denied the allegation and vowed to take all possible legal measures to prove his innocence.
The accusations come as the Malayalam film industry grapples with numerous sexual harassment allegations following the release of the Hema Committee report, which exposed widespread sexual misconduct and exploitation of women within the industry.
A case was registered at the Oonnukal police station in Ernakualm based on a complaint from a 40-year-old woman who alleged that she had been harassed by the actor and colleagues in Dubai.
The complainant alleged that she was raped under the pretense of being offered a role in a film. She added that the incident involved multiple individuals, including Nivin, whom she described as part of a group responsible for the assault.
"The case was registered after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) forwarded the complaint following the collection of statements from the complainant to the district police chief, who then passed it on to the Oonnukal police station. We subsequently registered a case under charges of rape and assault with intent to outrage a woman's modesty," said KP Vinod, the Station House Officer of Oonnukal police station.
There are six accused in the case, with Nivin Pauly being named as the sixth accused, he added.
Meanwhile, Nivin Pauly responded to allegations via social media, calling them "entirely untrue" and "baseless."
"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 actor posted on X.
Subsequently, he held a press conference where he reiterated that the allegations against him were false and added, "This is a deliberate allegation, and I believe there is a conspiracy behind it."
He further said that he did not know the complainant and had never seen or spoken to her.
The actor said that around one-and-a-half months ago, an officer of Oonnukal police station had called him over the phone and told him that they had received a sexual assault complaint against him from a woman.
"When I denied knowledge about the allegations, the officer said they were convinced that the complaint was false and they were going to close it," he said.
The actor further said that the officer and his lawyer advised him not to file a case against the complainant, as some persons make such complaints merely for publicity. "So, I did not pursue that then," he said.
Pauly said he will take all possible legal measures to prove his innocence and will fight it to the very end, as he believes that "we need to put a stop to such fake allegations."
"So, I will fight it, not just for me but for others who might face such fake allegations in the future," he said.
The actor also said that he would file a case against the complainant for trying to defame him, and the complaint was being prepared.
He further said that he will cooperate with the investigation and requested the media to ascertain the facts or truth behind the allegations before publicising them. "Such allegations affect our close family. Thankfully, my family's support is with me," he said.
Pauly is among the many actors and directors who are facing allegations of sexual harassment or rape by female actors following the publication of the Justice K Hema Committee report.
Following the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation cropping up against several actors and directors, the state government on August 25 announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team to probe them.
Among those accused include filmmaker Ranjith, actors Mukesh, Edavela Babu, Jayasurya, and actor-producer Maniyanpilla Raju.