The Thiruvananthapuram police have registered a case against veteran Malayalam filmmaker PT Kunju Muhammed. The action follows a complaint of alleged harassment filed by a woman.
The accused is also associated with the film industry. Both she and Muhammed were members of the selection committee for the upcoming International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
The alleged incident reportedly took place at a city hotel last month. Both individuals remained there due to their committee duties. The woman claimed that Muhammed molested her at the hotel on the last day of the screening.
The Thiruvananthapuram camp police formally registered a case after receiving a complaint.
Charges were filed for insulting the woman’s modesty and unwanted physical contact against her will. These fall under Sections 74 and 75(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
During the preliminary investigation, authorities confirmed they had reviewed the hotel’s CCTV footage.
Police said the principal is due to be formally questioned soon.
Muhammed is a well-known personality in Kerala. He is recognized for his work as an acclaimed filmmaker and producer and has also previously served as an independent MLA supported by the Left Front.
Maharashtra: Man arrested for raping minor girl in Pune
Meanwhile, an 18-year-old man was arrested allegedly rape a minor girl while on her way to school in Maharashtra’s Pune district, as reported by the news agency PTI.
According to the Pune Police, the incident took place in the Vishrantwadi area on December 4.
The accused had befriended the 14-year-old girl two months ago and on the day of the assault, he approached her and offered to drop her at school on a motorbike, they said.
However, instead of taking her to school, the accused allegedly took the juvenile to a secluded place and sexually assaulted and threatened her, said an official from Vishrantwadi police station.
The victim narrated the incident to her father on December 7, following which a complaint was filed.
The accused was booked under sections 64 (1) (rape) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act.
