The Kerala police on September 3 filed an FIR against popular Malayalam film actor Nivin Pauly, film producer A.K. Sunil and four others, including a woman, invoking gang rape and other charges after a lady filed a complaint. In her complaint, the woman alleged that she was sexually abused in Dubai multiple times between November 1 and December 15 last year. The survivor alleged that she was sexually abused after her drink was spiked.
Nivin has dubbed the allegation baseless, calling it a “plot to defame” him.
The FIR was filed at Oonnukal police station in Ernakulam district against Pauly, producer A.K. Sunil, Shreya, Binu, Basheer and Kuttan under IPC sections 345 (assaulting or using criminal force against a woman), 376D (gang rape), 354C (voyeurism), 450 (trespass), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376(2)(n) (commitment of rape repeatedly on the same woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
The SIT, formed to investigate sexual harassment cases reported, after the publication of the Justice Hema Committee report, recorded the survivor’s statement following which the FIR was registered.
In another development, the Chengamanad police in Ernakulam district registered an FIR against character actor Alencier Ley Lopez for sexual misconduct. The actor was booked under IPC sections 354 and 451 following a complaint by a junior artiste. The complainant alleged that Lopez entered her hotel room in Bangalore multiple times between June 2017 and December 2018 and misbehaved with her.