Won't return to AMMA till name gets cleared, says Dileep after top Malayalam actresses complain

Ever since the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes reinstated actor Dileep into the film body, the actor and AMMA have been receiving severe criticism from actors and politicians alike. Dileep, who is the prime accused in the abduction and molestation case of a Malayalam actress, was earlier suspended from the film body when he was arrested. Out on bail, Dileep was taken back to the organisation which prompted three of the leading actresses of Malayalam film industry to resign from AMMA.

Now, Dileep on Thursday said he will not return to the association till he gets cleared in the case of abducting and sexually assaulting an actress.

In a letter to Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) General Secretary Edavela Babu, Dileep, who is currently out on bail after being in jail for 85 days, said that he has learned from the media that the AMMA general body meeting held on Sunday stated that the Executive Committee that decided to suspend him was not done as per the by-laws and would not stand.

"I am happy that such a decision has been taken, but now that I am facing a case in which I have done nothing wrong, I do not wish to be active in any body till I come clean. I am deeply pained in hearing various criticism against AMMA in my name. I wish the newly elected committee of AMMA all the best," said Dileep in the letter, a copy of which has been posted in the public domain.

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Dileep`s action came after top actresses Revathy Asha Kelunni, Padmapriya Janakiraman and A. Parvathy wrote to Edavela Babu and demanded an emergency executive meeting to be called on July 13 or 14 to discuss his reinstatement.

The open letter was also posted on the Facebook page of the newly-formed Women in Cinema Collective (WCC).

As women members of AMMA, the three actresses expressed concern over its Sunday decision to bring back an expelled member who was involved in an alleged assault of another women member from the same organisation.

"At this meeting, a very crucial decision was taken... Considering the gravity of the circumstances and the matter being sub judice, it is shocking that such an important matter was decided without listing it on the agenda or being discussed among all members prior to the meeting.

"AMMA had publicly pledged full support to the member who survived the assault but the decision taken for reinstating the expelled member who is now a chargesheeted suspect goes against the promise made to the survivor," they said.

As a result, on Wednesday, "the survivor resigned and in solidarity with her three other women members have also resigned", the actresses said.

"This does not reflect well on AMMA," it said.

Earlier, the Kerala State Women`s Commission slammed superstar Mohanlal, who heads AMMA, over the reinstatement of Dileep who is an accused in the February 2017 actress kidnapping case.

This was the first decision taken by the new committee under Mohanlal.

Kerala Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty on Thursday expressed surprise in the manner in which AMMA revoked Dileep`s suspension.

"It should not be forgotten that actors are icons and they should be perfect role models, but this decision that they took is baffling," she said.

All eyes are now on superstar Mammootty, who had announced the decision to remove Dileep from AMMA. However, he is not an office-bearer any more.