The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a chargesheet against CPM MLA and Malayalam actor M Mukesh in connection with a rape case. The charges stem from allegations raised by actors in the Malayalam film industry following the release of the Hema Committee report.
The chargesheet, backed by both contextual and digital evidence, was submitted to the Ernakulam First Class Judicial Magistrate Court. This is the second chargesheet against Mukesh, with the first filed in a separate case in Thrissur.
Additionally, the SIT has also filed a chargesheet against actor and producer Maniyanpilla Raju in a sexual harassment case related to an incident that allegedly occurred in a flat in Fort Kochi. The complaint was lodged by the victim, leading to the formal probe.
SIT member AIG G Poonkuzhali confirmed the submission, stating, “The 150-page chargesheet includes rape charges against Mukesh and sexual harassment charges against Maniyanpilla Raju. Our investigation collected crucial evidence, including digital communications, which have been incorporated into the report.”
She further explained that although the sessions court had initially questioned the strength of the case while granting bail to Mukesh, the SIT conducted a thorough investigation and gathered substantial evidence to support the charges.
Mukesh was formally arrested in the case on September 24, 2024, following three hours of questioning at the Coastal Police headquarters in Kochi. However, he was released on bail shortly after, as the Ernakulam district court had granted him anticipatory bail on September 5, 2024.
Legal experts believe the accused actors may challenge the SIT’s findings in court. Meanwhile, the case remains under judicial review, with further legal proceedings expected.
