The Special Investigation Team (SIT) informed the Kerala High Court that all 35 cases registered based on the Hema Committee Report have been dropped due to the absence of victim testimony.
The revelation came during a court hearing on petitions demanding action based on the report, which was originally intended to tackle issues of sexual exploitation and abuse in the Malayalam film industry. Despite public notices and repeated efforts, not a single victim came forward to provide a statement, the SIT reported.
The Hema Committee, formed in 2017 and headed by retired Justice Hema, was tasked with recommending safety measures for women in the film industry. While the panel reportedly gathered testimonies pointing to systemic abuse, the full contents of the report were never made public.
Without victim cooperation, the SIT stated it was legally impossible to proceed with any of the cases. The High Court is now considering whether the matter warrants further action or can be closed.
The incident has once again sparked public debate about the challenges faced by survivors in coming forward, and whether institutional efforts like the Hema Committee have real impact in ensuring justice and accountability.
