Malayalam actor Jayasurya denies sexual abuse allegations and says he is a ‘living martyr’

Actor Jayasurya appeared before the police in Thiruvananthapuram for questioning in connection with a sexual assault case registered against him. The complaint was filed by a female actor, who claims she was insulted during a film shoot at Secretariat. After the interrogation at the Cantonment police station, Jayasurya spoke to the media and firmly denied all allegations against him. He claimed that he is a ‘living martyr’ for the false nature of such allegations.

The FIR against the actor was registered under Section 354 (assault or criminal force against women with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on August 28 at the Cantonment police station. She had leveled allegations of sexual abuse against prominent actors M Mukesh, who is also an MLA, Jayasurya and Maniyanpilla Raju, as well as small-time actor Idavela Babu, who played a prominent role in the actors’ association AMMA. Another case was filed with the Karamana police station under Sections 354 and 354 C (voyeurism) of the IPC following a complaint by another woman actor who had alleged that Jayasurya had molested her on a film set nearby in 2012-2013 from Thodupuzha.

Multiple FIRs have been registered against many high-profile Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment against several directors and actors in the wake of revelations in the Justice Hema Committee report. Besides Jayasurya, the film personalities accused of sexual assault or harassment include actors Siddique, Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu and director Ranjith. The Justice K Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government following the sexual assault of actresses in 2017, and the report highlighted cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.

Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from PTI

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