Kottayam (Kerala) | Police have registered a sexual assault case against a noted makeup artist in the film industry based on a complaint lodged by a woman.

Professional makeup artist Saji Koratty was booked based on a statement given by a woman professional before the government appointed Justice K Hema Committee which sheds light on the harassments and exploitations faced by women in the film industry.

After the government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations from the committee report, the complainant woman approached the Kollam police and gave a statement.

It was later forwarded to Ponkunnam police here as the alleged crime had occured in the district years ago, police sources said.

A FIR was registered against the accused last week and the case was handed over to the SIT on Monday, Ponkunnam police said.

Various sections of the IPC including 354 (assault or the use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty) were imposed against the accused, police added.

Multiple FIRs have been registered against several high-profile Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment against various directors and actors, sparked by revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report.

The recently released report sheds light on the exploitations and sexual assaults faced by women professionals in the film industry.