Actor Nivin Pauly, Malayalam film producer AK Sunil, and four others have been booked by the Kerala police on Tuesday, September 3, over a woman’s complaint that she was sexually assaulted. Oonnukal police in Ernakulam confirmed to TNM that they have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including section 376 (rape).
Nivin, who is reportedly named the sixth accused in the case, has denied the allegation.
The woman had filed a complaint with the Ernakulam Rural Superintendent of Police (SP), Vaibhav Saxena. In the complaint, she alleged that she was promised a role in a film, for which she was asked to come to Dubai in November 2023. She was later sexually assaulted in a hotel room in Dubai, she said. More details are not available at the moment.
Soon after the news of the case broke, Nivin issued a statement calling the allegations baseless. "I have come across a false news report accusing me of abusing a girl. Please know that this is entirely untrue. I'm determined to go to any extent to prove these allegations are baseless and will take all necessary steps to bring those responsible to light. Thank you for your concern. The rest will be handled legally," he said.
Nivin Pauly made his acting debut with the 2010 Malayalam film Malarvadi Arts Club, and has since played the lead role in many popular films, including romantic comedies such as Neram, Premam, Bangalore Days and other acclaimed films such as 1983, Moothon, and Thuramukham. AK Sunil, the accused producer, is known for funding popular films like Vijay Superum Pournamiyum and Manoharam.
The complaint against Nivin and Sunil comes in the aftermath of the release of the Hema Committee report that looked into problems that women face in the Malayalam film industry. Filmmaker Ranjith, actor-politician Mukesh, actors Edavela Babu, Baburaj, Jayasurya, and Siddique have been booked on various complaints of sexual harassment in the last few days.