'Went Before Hema Committee For Academic Purpose' : Malayalam Actress Approaches Supreme Court Against HC Direction To Register FIR

A Malayalam film actress, who deposed before the Justice Hema Committee - which was constituted to inquire into the exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema- has approached the Supreme Court against the direction issued by the Kerala High Court to register FIRs based on the statements recorded by the Committee.

The actress, in her Special Leave Petition, said that she gave statements to the Hema Committee "purely for academic purposes" and not to initiate any criminal proceedings. She said that she voluntarily provided the statement with the understanding that it was intended solely for the Committee's academic or advisory purposes and not for triggering any legal or criminal action.  

She submitted that some of the statements given by her were "hearsay allegations" which were later disowned by the affected parties. The petitioner also pointed out that the Justice Hema Committee was not having any legal authority, as it was created based on an executive notification and not under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.

The petitioner questioned the legality of the High Court's direction by arguing that the Court cannot encroach into the domain of the investigative agency. She argued that the statement given by her for academic purposes cannot be be construed as "information" that could trigger a criminal investigation or lead to the registration of an FIR.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued notice on a petition filed by producer Sajimon Parayil against the High Court's direction. Recently, the Kerala State Women's Commission intervened in the matter supporting the registration of FIRs.