Actor Dileep was expelled from various trade bodies in the Malayalam film industry hours after he was remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday in connection with the conspiracy behind the abduction and sexual assault on a female actor.
An emergency executive meeting of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) held at the residence of actor Mammootty at Panampilly Nagar expelled the actor from the primary membership of the organisation. Dileep was treasurer of AMMA.
Mr. Mammootty said the organisation had always been with the victim and would continue to support her. It was unfortunate that criminal elements were part of the Malayalam film industry, he said.
AMMA condemned the statements made by a few of its members against the female actor after the incident. The organisation praised the government and the State police for carrying out a proper investigation in the case.
The meeting, which began around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, was held under tight police security following reports that activists of various youth organisations would stage a march to Mr. Mammootty's residence as a mark of protest against the organisation. The association had received brickbats after its general body meeting held in Kochi recently decided to protect both Mr. Dileep and the female actor.
Mr. Mammootty and Mohanlal, general secretary and vice president respectively of AMMA, had remained silent on the issue at the press conference held after the general body meeting. The former said the investigation in the case was not complete when the association’s general body meeting was held in Kochi recently.
He also told mediapersons that a change in the executive committee of the organisation could be taken up for discussion. However, Mr. Mohanlal ruled out reports that he had offered to step down from the post of vice president.
Besides Mr. Mammootty and Mr. Mohanlal, actors Prithviraj, Asif Ali, Remya Nambeesan, Devan, Kalabhavan Shajon, and Edavela Babu were among those who attended the meeting.
Mr. Dileep was expelled from the Kerala Film Producers Association on Tuesday afternoon. "Mr. Dileep has been expelled from the primary membership of the association," said Kalliyoor Sasi, joint secretary of the association, after an emergency meeting of the trade body here. A general body meeting of the association will be held on Wednesday to hold detailed discussions on the developments emerging in the Malayalam film industry after the actor’s arrest.
The Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) and Film Distributors Association also expelled Dileep from the primary membership of the organisations. Sibi Malayil, president of the organisation, said Mr. Dileep was member of the director's union, an affiliated body of FEFKA. He had taken membership in the capacity of an assistant director. Dileep had entered tinsel town as an assistant to film-maker Kamal.
