The release of the Justice Hema Committee Report last week, which exposed rampant sexual abuse and exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema, has sparked a fresh wave of allegations. This has led to the resignation of senior filmmaker Ranjit and veteran actor Siddique from prominent industry positions and has also resulted in actor-politician Mukesh facing serious accusations.

On Sunday, Ranjit stepped down as Head of the state-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy following allegations of sexual misconduct by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra from 2009. Ranjit has denied the charges.

Meanwhile, Siddique confirmed that he has resigned as General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) after being accused of rape by a young Malayali actress in 2016. Siddique did not address the allegations but confirmed his resignation.

In addition, actor-cum-CPI(M) MLA Mukesh is facing renewed allegations of sexual misconduct from a casting director. Mukesh has denied these claims and described them as "politically motivated."

In response to the growing public outcry, the CPI(M)-led Kerala Government announced that the state police would investigate the new complaints. The Chief Minister’s office has set up a seven-member team of high-ranking police officers, including four women IPS officers, to be led by Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner Sparjankumar.

Ranjit’s resignation came after Sreelekha Mitra publicly alleged that he had misbehaved with her in 2009 during the pre-production phase of the Mammootty starrer Paleri Manikkam. Following the accusation, opposition parties accused the Left Government of shielding Ranjit. In an audio message, Ranjit claimed the allegation was part of a "concerted move" against him after he became the Academy chairperson. He stated he stepped down to prevent damage to the government’s image and promised to prove his innocence through legal means.

Siddique, addressing the serious allegations against him, stated, “Given the serious nature of the allegation, I would not be morally suitable to continue as General Secretary of AMMA.”

Sreelekha Mitra stated that, when she was in her early 20s, Siddique invited her to a hotel room under the pretense of discussing a film project, where he allegedly sexually abused her. She has expressed readiness to pursue legal action if assured of her safety by the state government.

Casting director Tess Joseph has accused Mukesh of inappropriate behavior during the shooting of the TV program Koteeswaran, alleging that he repeatedly called her to his hotel room. Joseph claimed that when she resisted his advances, she was relocated next to his room, and her boss had to evacuate her. Mukesh has denied these allegations, labeling them as politically motivated.

Ranjit, 59, began his career as a scriptwriter in the mid-80s and later gained recognition as a director and producer. His films Thirakkatha and Indian Rupee won national awards for Best Malayalam Feature Film. Siddique, 61, is a prominent actor with over 350 films and has played a significant role in AMMA. Mukesh, 67, is a senior actor and politician who won his assembly seat in 2016 and retained it in 2021 but lost in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

According to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Office, ADGP H. Venkatesh will oversee the state police’s investigation. The team will include DIG Ajeetha Begum and five SPs: Merin Joseph, G. Poonkuzhali, Aishwarya Dongra, Ajith V., and Madhusoodanan S.