Malayalam actor Balachandra Menon denies sexual assault allegations saying everything is fake

KOCHI: Award-winning actress Balachandra Menon has denied allegations made by a former actress who on Monday lodged a complaint with the Special Investigation Team of Kerala Police alleging sexual abuse by him in 2007 at a hotel in the state capital.

Menon denied this and said he had already lodged a complaint with the state police chief saying it was a false and baseless allegation.

The 70-year-old is known as a multitasker in the Malayalam film industry – as a director, producer, writer and actor, with a career spanning more than four decades. He has directed 40 films and appeared in over 100 films.

The former actress has filed complaints against seven people from the film industry. Among those arrested and later released on bail are two-time CPI(M) MP Mukesh and former AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes) general secretary Edavela Babu.

In her complaint before the SIT, she said that in January 2007, during the shooting of Menon’s film ‘De Ingotu Nokkiye’, Menon came to her hotel room, misbehaved with her sexually and threatened to shoot the scenes if she did not cooperate of her that had already been canned and also asked her not to inform anyone. She was afraid to file a complaint at that time and hence there was a delay.

The Malayalam film industry was reeling after the release of the Hema Committee report on August 19. Some former actresses revealed their bad experiences and the police acted quickly. Meanwhile, the police have registered 11 FIRs against various film personalities after some former actresses revealed to the media how they were exploited.

Currently in the dock are former actor and CPI(M) legislator Mukesh, Nivin Pauly, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyanpilla Raju, directors Ranjith and Prakash and production managers Vichu and Noble.

Mukesh, Ranjith, Raju, Prakash and a few others have already received bail from the courts.

The SIT has to submit the status of action taken on the Hema Committee report to the special bench of the Kerala High Court on October 3.