Nivin Pauly accused of sexual harassment, actor calls allegations “baseless”

An officer from Oonnukal police station confirmed to PTI that the complaint was filed under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case involves six accused, including a woman, with Pauly listed as the sixth accused.

According to the police officer, the complaint states that the alleged incident took place in Dubai more than a year ago. However, further details about the case were not disclosed.

Following the FIR, Pauly addressed the allegations in a Facebook post, claiming they were “completely untrue”. “I am determined to do everything I can to prove that these allegations are baseless and will take all necessary steps to bring those responsible to light. Thank you for your concern. The rest will be dealt with legally,” he said.

pic.twitter.com/7WlEj6xt1N

— Nivin Pauly (@NivinOfficial) 3 September 2024

In a subsequent press conference, Pauly reiterated his stance, calling the allegations a “deliberate conspiracy” and saying he had no knowledge of the complainant. He mentioned that an officer at Oonnukal police station had informed him about the complaint about one and a half months ago.

“When I denied knowing about the allegations, the officer said they were convinced the complaint was false and would close the case,” he said.

Pauly explained that the official and his lawyer had advised him not to file a counter-suit against the complainant, as such cases are sometimes used for publicity purposes. Therefore, he decided not to pursue this route and now plans to take legal action against the complainant for defamation.

The actor also stressed that he is committed to fully cooperating with the investigation and urged the media to verify the facts before reporting on the case, noting the impact such allegations could have on his family. He expressed his gratitude for the support his family has received during this difficult time.

Pauly's situation comes amid a wider investigation into sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam cinema industry following the release of the Justice K Hema Committee report. This report, commissioned by the Kerala government in response to the 2017 assault case of an actress, shed light on cases of harassment and exploitation in the industry. In response to the increasing number of allegations, the Kerala government on August 25 announced the formation of a seven-member special investigation team to look into these allegations.

With contributions from PTI