KOCHI: Kerala police on Tuesday filed an FIR against popular Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly, a film producer and four others, including a woman, invoking gang-rape and other charges following a complaint lodged by the survivor who alleged that she was sexually abused in Dubai multiple times between Nov 1 and Dec 15 last year.
The survivor alleged that the woman, Shreya, first promised her a job as a caregiver in Europe and later took her to Dubai on the pretext of introducing her to those connected to Mollywood for a role in films.
Pauly has described the allegation as baseless, claiming that it is part of a conspiracy to defame him.
The FIR was filed at Oonnukal police station in Ernakulam district against Pauly, film producer AK Sunil, Shreya, Binu, Basheer and Kuttan under IPC sections 354 (assaulting or using criminal force against a woman), 376D (gang rape), 354C (voyeurism), 450 (trespass), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376 (2)(n) (commits rape repeatedly on the same woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
In her complaint, the survivor alleged that Shreya had spiked her drink and she was sexually abused by the accused together and separately on multiple occasions between Nov 1 and Dec 15. Sources said the SIT formed to investigate sexual harassment cases reported after the publication of Justice Hema Committee report recorded the survivor’s statement and the FIR was registered after SIT’s report was forwarded to Oonnukal police station.
Ernalkulam Rural police sources said they had earlier received a complaint from the survivor who accused Pauly of physically assaulting her. Police said they did not proceed due to lack of supporting documentation like reporting of the offence to the concerned local police or that of a medical admission following the assault.
Pauly said police had closed the same case almost one and a half months ago and he would be filing a counter-complaint in view of the FIR.
“I have no knowledge of the complainant whatsoever; have never met or communicated with her. I am entirely confident of my innocence, and I assert that I have done nothing wrong. I believe this allegation is a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation,” he said at a press conference.
Pauly said he was in Dubai during the last months of 2023 for the filming of the movie ‘Malayali From India’. “I have no clear idea about the time period of the crime as per her allegation.”
The complainant reiterated her allegation to the media after Pauly’s presser. She alleged that Shreya had taken Rs 3 lakh from her to send her to Europe. When she asked for her money back as she didn’t’ get the job, she promised her a role in films. Subsequently, she was introduced to AK Sunil. She met Pauly and others through Sunil.
In another development, Chengamanad police in Ernakulam district registered an FIR against character actor Alencier Ley Lopez for sexual misconduct. The actor was booked under IPC sections 354 and 451 following a complaint by a junior artiste. The complainant alleged that Lopez entered her hotel room in Bengaluru multiple times between June 2017 and Dec 2018 and misbehaved with her.
Source Agencies
