Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 28 (NationPress) A woman in the film industry has accused renowned director P.T. Kunhummuhammed of sexual misconduct, claiming she is under immense pressure from various sources to retract her allegations and "protect" him.

The survivor stated that she was approached by intermediaries urging her to reconsider her complaint, citing the filmmaker’s age and health as reasons to show compassion.

As per the complainant, the incident in question took place during the film selection process at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).

She alleged that the filmmaker, who is also a former CPI-M lawmaker, acted inappropriately, prompting her to report the matter to the authorities.

However, she claims she has faced emotional pressure and intimidation instead of support since coming forward.

The survivor mentioned that several individuals intervened on behalf of the accused, urging her to drop the charges, arguing that he is elderly and in poor health.

"I am constantly being urged to let this matter go. The pressure has become overwhelming," she expressed, stating that she feels isolated despite her serious allegations.

She further remarked that the system seemed to be favoring the accused from the outset.

The survivor noted that the police delayed the registration of her complaint despite her repeated requests.

"Even after I approached the authorities, there was no action for several days. It was only after media coverage that the police registered an FIR," she explained.

Additionally, she alleged that even after the case was filed, authorities allowed time for the accused to apply for anticipatory bail, indicating a lack of urgency in addressing the situation.

The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has publicly condemned the handling of this case.

In their statement, they highlighted that despite the survivor reaching out to the Chief Minister’s Office, no response or intervention was made. The WCC also criticized the police for taking nearly eight days to register the FIR, despite having recorded the survivor’s statement.

This controversy has sparked renewed discussions about institutional negligence, the power dynamics within the film industry, and the challenges survivors face when they come forward against influential figures. There are increasing calls for a transparent and timely investigation to ensure justice is served without bias.