Actor Nivin Pauly has refuted allegations of sexual assault levelled against him by a woman who has claimed that he along with others had sexually abused her at a hotel in Dubai last year.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the Malayalam actor said that he will go to any extent to fight for justice.
The actor said, “I called for this press conference at this time because I am 100 per cent sure that I am not at fault. An FIR has been registered, and I will handle the case according to the law and will fight against it. I will go to any extent to prove the truth. This will take time.”
Pauly and five others have been charged by Kerala Police for gang rape and related crimes.
Rape allegations and the SIT investigation
The First Information Report was filed under IPC Sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman), 376D (gang rape), 354C (voyeurism), 450 (trespass), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376(2)(n) (repeated rape of the same woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Pauly was named as the sixth accused in the case, with Shreya, film producer AK Sunil, Binu, Basheer, and Kuttan identified as the first five accused.The complainant alleged that the accused had promised her a role in a film.
The offence allegedly took place in Dubai last year.
Nivin Pauly's response to the allegations
Nivin Pauly also issued an official statement on his Instagram account.
“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 baseless and will take all necessary steps to bring those responsible to light. Thank you for your concern. The rest will be handled legally,” Pauly stated on his Instagram account.
Other actors facing allegations
Filmmaker Ranjith, actor and CPI(M) MLA Mukesh, and actors Edavela Babu, Baburaj, Jayasurya, and Siddique have also been charged with various sexual harassment complaints.
The Hema Committee Report and its impact
The allegations against Nivin Pauly and other actors stem from the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which investigated sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. The report, which was submitted in 2019 but only made public recently, details shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment of women professionals in the industry.
The report revealed that the Malayalam film industry is dominated by a small group of male producers, directors, and actors who exert significant control over the industry. Following the release of the report, the Kerala government set up a special investigation team to probe the allegations against several actors and directors.
Nivin Pauly: A career in the limelight
Nivin Pauly is a well-known Malayalam actor, who has starred in a number of successful films. He made his acting debut in 2012 and has since starred in several critically acclaimed and commercially successful films, including "Neram", "Premam", "Action Hero Biju", and "Moothon".
He is widely regarded as one of the most talented actors of his generation, known for his charming personality and versatile acting skills. He has also worked in Tamil and Telugu films.
The case ahead: Fighting for justice
Nivin Pauly has stated that he will cooperate with any investigation and that the allegations against him are part of a conspiracy. He maintains that he is innocent and will fight for justice in the case ahead.
The outcome of the case will be crucial for both Nivin Pauly and the Malayalam film industry, which has been grappling with the issue of sexual harassment and exploitation for many years.
It is important to note that Nivin Pauly is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
