Since none of the victims of the alleged crimes came forward to provide testimony, the SIT was forced to close all 35 of the cases it had started.
The Kerala High Court was notified on Wednesday that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was established to look into complaints of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry as disclosed in the Hema Committee Report, had dismissed all of the cases [Navas A @ Paichira Navas v. State Kerala and associated matters].
The State administration informed a Special Bench comprising Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and CS Sudha that the SIT needed to drop all 35 cases it had started because no victims of the alleged crimes came forward to testify. The victims received all the assistance they required, the attorney promised the court.
Justice Nambiar replied, "We do not want to compel anyone either."
After the 'Women in Cinema Collective' petitioned the Kerala government in 2017, the Justice K Hema Committee was established to investigate the problems that women in the Malayalam cinema industry confront. The investigation revealed pervasive sexual harassment in the film business and was released in August 2024, although it was edited to preserve witnesses' privacy.
The High Court then established a Special Bench to examine any cases originating from the report, and a SIT was established to look into any criminal cases connected to the report's allegations.
Kerala Advocate General (AG) Gopalakrishna Kurup was questioned by the Bench during the most recent hearing on these concerns regarding the progress of the legislation that was being suggested to solve problems in the Malayalam film industry. The Bench expressed its hope that the proposed legislation would not just include clauses taken from the 2013 Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (POSH Act).
During the film conclave, which is set for August 2025, AG Kurup gave the Court his word that a final draft of the legislation will be created after engaging all relevant parties.
Following the conclave, the matter will be heard by the Court.
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