A woman film professional has accused veteran filmmaker P.T. Kunhummuhammed of sexual misconduct and claimed that she is under intense pressure from various sources to withdraw her complaint and “protect” him.
The survivor reported that intermediaries have approached her, urging her to reconsider her case, citing Kunhummuhammed’s age and health condition as reasons for leniency. According to her, the alleged incident occurred during the selection process for films at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). She described the filmmaker and former CPI-M lawmaker’s behavior as inappropriate and offensive, prompting her to seek authorities’ intervention.
Instead of support, she alleges she has faced emotional pressure and intimidation aimed at silencing her. Several individuals have reportedly intervened on behalf of the accused, requesting her to withdraw the complaint and arguing that he is elderly and unwell.
“I am being told repeatedly to let this go. The pressure has become unbearable,” she stated, expressing feelings of isolation and a lack of support despite her serious allegation. She further claimed that the system has appeared to side with the accused from the beginning.
According to her, the police delayed registering the case despite her repeated complaints. “Even after I approached the authorities, no action was taken for several days. It was only after the issue became public through media reports that the police finally registered an FIR,” she said.
The survivor also alleged that even after the case was registered, authorities allowed time for the accused to seek anticipatory bail, indicating a lack of urgency and seriousness in handling the matter.
The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has publicly criticized how the case has been managed. In their statement, they highlighted that despite the survivor reaching out to the Chief Minister’s Office, no direct response or intervention was provided. The WCC questioned the delay in registering the FIR, noting that the police took nearly eight days to act after recording the survivor’s statement.
This controversy has reignited discussions on institutional apathy, power imbalances within the film industry, and the challenges faced by survivors who come forward with allegations against influential figures. There are increasing calls for an impartial and time-bound investigation to ensure that justice is served without fear or favor.