I quit AMMA on my own, claims actor Dileep

He says AMMA did not demand his resignation as stated by its chief Mohanlal..

File photo of actor Dileep

Actor Dileep, an accused in the case of sexually assaulting an actress last year, on Tuesday claimed that he quit the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists(AMMA) on his own and that it had not demanded his resignation.

In a Facebook post, he also released his resignation letter dated October 10, saying he decided to quit to put an end to the “conspiracies” and “controversies” to destroy AMMA in his name.

Dileep’s FB post sparked a controversy in Mollywood as it was in stark contrast to the recent statement by AMMA president Mohanlal that the actors’ body had sought his resignation.

At a press meet in Kochi on October 19,

Mohanlal said Dileep’s resignation was sought after discussing with him the demand by Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) members that he should quit the association. “Dileep has resigned and his resignation has been accepted,” he said.

Dileep, however, said in the FB post that “I have given the resignation letter after a detailed discussion with Mohanlal whom I consider as my elder brother.”

''It's not expulsion''

“If a resignation letter is accepted, it is not expulsion but resignation,” he said adding that his act was to ensure that nobody destroyed AMMA in his name.

Mohanlal had come up with an explanation about Dileep’s resignation after the WCC slammed AMMA for allegedly showing “bias” against the young actress who was abducted and molested in her car in Kochi last year.

The WCC members have been on the warpath since the actors’ body decided to reinstate Dileep, who was arrested on charges of conspiracy in the actress assault case in February 2017 and later released on bail.

Senior actress and WCC leader Revathy recently said AMMA was continuing its “apathetic” stand to the survivor at a time when the nation and its film industry were extending support to women in the #MeToo campaign.

A platform of women actors, directors, script writers and singers of the Malayalam industry, the WCC was launched soon after the actress’ assault incident, to ensure gender justice and safeguard women’s rights in the film world.