Actor-Producer, Charged With Raping Actress, Threatens To Start A New ‘Me Too’

Kochi: Malayalam actor-producer Vijay Babu has claimed he is the real victim after being booked by Kerala Police for allegedly sexually assaulting an actress.

Hours after a case was registered against Babu, he mentioned the woman’s name in a Facebook live programme and said he would file a defamation case against the complainant for tarnishing his image.

“Let it be the beginning of a new ‘Me Too’. Let us start a new fight,’’ Babu said.

Police said the actress stated in her complaint with Kochi police that Babu had sexually abused her several times promising roles in his films and raped her at his flat in Kochi.

Kochi City DCP VU Kuriakose said that a second case will be registered against Babu for disclosing the name of alleged rape survivor.

Babu, founder of film production company Friday Film House, said on Facebook live that he had known the woman since 2018 and gave her a chance to act in his films after she cleared audition. “She sent several messages to me saying that she was suffering from depression. I have around 400 screenshots of those messages. I haven’t sent any messages to that woman for the last one-and-a-half years,” he said.

The woman, said in the Facebook page ‘Women Against Sexual Harassment’ that Vijay physically assaulted and sexually exploited her from March 13 to 14 April this year.

“He won my trust by being friendly and advising me as I was a novice in the film industry. Under the guise of a professional guide, he sexually exploited me. He raped me after forcefully intoxicating me. Whenever I was conscious, I denied consent for engaging in sex. But for him, it was never an issue. Disregarding my objection, he has raped me several times. He intoxicated me with alcohol and forced me to take ‘happy pills’ but I objected. When I was incapable of saying yes or no consciously, he abused me. He even forced me into oral sex in a car against my will. I was in a state of shock, incapable of talking or responding,’’ the female actress claimed.