Keralam filmmaker begins hunger strike; seeks Hema Committee report, probe into cases against him

Keralam-based filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan on Monday began an indefinite hunger strike outside the state Secretariat, demanding the release of the Hema Committee report and a high-level probe into the irregularities flagged by the panel.

Sasidharan said he had taken the step alleging that the Keralam government was unwilling to order what he described as "fair investigations" into several issues, including an alleged conspiracy behind two cases registered against him on complaints by a prominent Malayalam film actress.

The director announced the start of his hunger strike in a Facebook post and shared photographs and a video from the protest site.

In the photograph, Sasidharan was seen sitting on a chair outside the Secretariat, with state film awards received by him displayed on a wall beside him.

In the video, he said he had sought the investigations during the previous Left Democratic Front government but no action was taken.

"After the new UDF government came to power, I gave letters to the chief minister (V D Satheesan) and Home Minister (Ramesh Chennithala) in May seeking the investigations. However, no action has been taken till date," he said.

Sasidharan claimed that despite repeatedly raising the issue on Facebook, neither the public nor the government had taken action.

"It is not a personal matter; it is a social issue," he said.

Sasidharan has faced multiple cases following complaints by the actress.

In January this year, police registered a case against him under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly stalking, criminal intimidation and defamation after the actress accused him of harassing her on a social media platform.

Earlier, in September last year, he was detained at Mumbai airport after Keralam Police issued a lookout notice against him in connection with another harassment complaint filed by the actress.

In 2022, he was arrested in Neyyattinkara following a complaint by the actress accusing him of blackmailing her and maligning her reputation through social media.