Hema Committee report: Survivors hesitant to pursue legal action, 35 SIT cases stalled

The Hema Committee report, which exposed sexual abuse and gender inequality in the Malayalam film industry and led to the registration of more than 35 FIRs, has left law enforcement officials in a bind as survivors are hesitant to take legal action.

The FIRs were filed by the special investigation team set up to address allegations of molestation, attempted rape and rape, with incidents dating back to the early 2000s.

According to TOI report, there is little circumstantial evidence due to the elapse of time. The investigation has to rely on the testimonies of the survivors, which are deemed insufficient for further legal proceedings.

Survivors are not interested to go forward with the legal proceedings, leaving law enforcement uncertain on how to go forward with the cases, the publication reported.

The survivors are withholding the names of their alleged assailants, however the police believe, using the clues provided in the statements to the committee, the could identify the culprits, the report said.

The FIRs have been kept under wraps in order to protect the identities of the survivors and the high-profile culprits, as the investigation is underway.

Actor Mala Parvathy, who testified before the committee, has moved the Supreme Court to quash the SIT probe. She argues that the investigation is harnessing innocents individuals and her legal move could have significant ramifications for the investigation.

G Poonguzhali (coastal security) is the nodal officer and immediate contact for survivors in case of threats and intimidation related to the Hema committee report.