Mohanlal resigns as AMMA President; Executive committee dissolved amid sexual abuse allegations
Kochi: Actor Mohanlal has resigned as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) on Tuesday, leading to the dissolution of the entire executive committee.
According to a statement released by AMMA, the decision to dissolve the executive committee was made in response to sexual abuse allegations against some of its members, which were reported in the media. The statement explained, "In light of allegations made by some actors against some of the committee members, AMMA has decided to dissolve the executive committee, taking moral responsibility. A new committee will be formed after an election within two months."
The statement also expressed hope for a new leadership capable of revitalizing and strengthening the association, adding, "We are thankful to everyone for pointing out our errors."
Initially, the AMMA leadership planned to hold an executive committee meeting to discuss the allegations against its members and to select a suitable candidate for the joint secretary position, following Siddique’s resignation. However, the situation became more complicated after joint secretary Baburaj also faced allegations of sexual abuse. Additionally, differing opinions from vice-presidents Jagadish and Jayan Cherthala on the Hema Committee report further exposed internal conflicts within the association.
The now-dissolved executive committee included actors Jagadish, Jayan Cherthala, Baburaj, Kalabhavan Shajon, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Joy Mathew, Suresh Krishna, Tini Tom, Ananya, Vinu Mohan, Tovino Thomas, Sarayu, Ansiba, and Jomol.
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SC seeks ED's response on journalist's bail plea in money laundering case
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its response within three days on a bail plea of journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case linked to an alleged financial fraud.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the jailed journalist, to file rejoinder, if needed, to the ED's response within two days of it being filed.
The top court fixed the case for further hearing on December 15.
During the brief hearing on Monday, Sibal said a journalist has been facing as many as six cases.
"The journalist is accused of extortion," the counsel for the ED said and sought a short adjournment on the ground that Solicitor General Tuhar Mehta was unavailable at the moment.
The top court on September 8 sought responses from the Gujarat government and the ED on Langa's bail plea.
While issuing the notices on Langa's bail plea, the bench asked, "What kind of a journalist is he?"
"With due respect, there are some very genuine journalists. But there are also people who on their scooter say we are 'patrakar' (journalists) and what they actually do everybody knows," the bench told Sibal.
Sibal replied that these are all allegations.
"In one FIR, he gets anticipatory bail, then a second FIR is lodged and again anticipatory bail is granted but now he is booked under a third FIR for income tax evasion. There are other things also against him," Sibal submitted.
He added that there is a background to the case also.
On July 31, the Gujarat High Court rejected Langa's bail plea in the money laundering case on the grounds that if released on bail, prejudice would be caused to the prosecution case.
On February 25, the ED said it arrested Langa in a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged financial fraud.
He was first arrested in October 2024 in a GST fraud case.
The money laundering case against Langa stems from two FIRs filed by Ahmedabad police on charges of fraud, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating and causing wrongful loss of lakhs of rupees to certain people.
