Kerala Government Updates High Court on Hema Committee Report Investigation

The Kerala government has informed the High Court that the preliminary inquiry into cases arising from the Hema Committee report, which investigated sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry, is progressing well and will be completed by the end of December. The court has appointed an amicus curiae to gather perspectives from stakeholders in the entertainment industry to inform the government’s drafting of legislation addressing issues faced by women working in the field. While 26 FIRs have been registered, five survivors have declined to proceed with their cases, and three survivors have disputed statements attributed to them. The SIT is working to gather evidence and connect with the actual survivors in these cases.