KOCHI: The Kerala film industry is reeling from the fallout of serious sexual assault allegations against prominent actors after the findings of the Hema Committee report on the working conditions of women professionals in the industry were made public. Prompt action was taken against two actors, Mukesh and Sidhique, after they received no reprieve from the Kerala High Court.

Actor and MLA M. Mukesh was formally arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with a rape case filed by a female actor. He was taken into custody early Tuesday morning at his residence in Kochi. 

The allegations against him date back to 2010, when Mukesh allegedly raped the complainant at his flat in Kochi, promising her a membership in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). Mukesh, a two-time Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA from Kollam, was interrogated for over three hours at the Coastal Police Headquarters before his arrest was recorded.

Despite the arrest, Mukesh was released on bail shortly after, thanks to an anticipatory bail he had secured earlier this month. The court had observed inconsistencies in the complainant's statements, which played a role in granting the bail.

Meanwhile, actor Sidhique is currently on the run after the Kerala High Court denied his anticipatory bail plea in a separate rape case from 2016. Some witnesses have claimed to have seen Sidhique leaving the area in a black SUV just as the police operation commenced. Dismissing his pleas for anticipatory bail, the high court said that in view of the seriousness of the accusations he was facing, his custodial interrogation was inevitable for proper investigation of the crime.

The allegations against Sidhique involve a young woman actor who claimed that he raped her in a hotel room in Thiruvananthapuram. The court's decision has prompted a statewide manhunt, with a lookout notice issued for Sidhique.

The arrests have sparked a flurry of reactions from both political circles and the film industry. Senior leaders from various political parties have called for a thorough investigation and justice for the victims. Meanwhile, the film fraternity is divided, with some supporting the accused actors and others demanding stringent action against them.

The Hema Committee, established by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case, highlighted systemic harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry in its report. It called for significant reforms to ensure safety and dignity, and the allegations, especially against both actors, sent shockwaves through the Malayalam film industry.