Malayalam film star Nivin Pauly has vehemently denied allegations of gangrape and sexual assault leveled against him by a woman in a recent complaint filed in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The actor, who is accused of being involved in a group assault outside India, has dismissed the charges as “baseless” and expressed his determination to clear his name.
In a press conference held on Tuesday evening, Pauly, 40, refuted the allegations and asserted that he had never met or spoken to the complainant. “I don’t know who she is; I have never seen her or spoken to her. This is baseless news, and I will go to any extent to prove the charges wrong,” Pauly stated. He emphasized his commitment to cooperating with the investigation, despite his initial claim that the police had previously closed the case after he denied any involvement.
The woman’s complaint alleges that she was deceived by promises of acting opportunities and was sexually assaulted by a group of six individuals, including Pauly, who is named as the sixth accused. Pauly, in response, suggested that there might be a conspiracy behind the allegations and questioned the involvement of others in the case.
He also took to social media, expressing his frustration with the “false news” and reiterating his intention to fight the accusations legally. “Please know that this is entirely untrue. I am determined to go to any extent to prove these allegations are baseless and will take all necessary steps to bring those responsible to light,” Pauly wrote on X.
The case has been registered by the Oonukal police in Ernakulam and will be forwarded to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Kerala government to address sexual exploitation cases within the Malayalam film industry. This comes in the wake of the recent Hema Committee report, which exposed widespread sexual exploitation in the industry.
Pauly, who began his career as a software engineer before transitioning to acting in 2010, has appeared in over 50 films and won two Kerala Film Awards. He also ventured into production with his 2016 film Action Hero Biju, which was a commercial success.
The Malayalam film industry has faced significant turmoil following the release of the Hema Committee report, with multiple FIRs registered against individuals from the industry, including actors and directors. Notable figures under scrutiny include actor-turned-CPI-M legislator Mukesh Madhavan, Siddique, Jayasurya, and directors Ranjith and V.K. Prakash, among others.
Sources By Agencies
