Filmmaker Asha Achy Joseph accuses former MLA PTK Mohamed of sexual harassment during IFFK jury duty. Joseph, who came forward publicly, alleges he made advances in his hotel room. A chargesheet has been filed against Mohamed with CCTV evidence.
Filmmaker Asha Achy Joseph, who filed an alleged sexual harassment complaint against filmmaker and former MLA PTK Mohamed, has opened up about the incident, her ongoing fight for justice, and her work with women's rights groups. The incident allegedly occurred on November 6, 2025, when PTK Mohamed, then chairman of the jury for the Malayalam film selection at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), invited Asha to his hotel suite under the pretext of discussing the film selection process. Asha has accused Mohamed of making unsolicited and aggressive sexual advances, prompting her to flee the room. While Asha initially remained anonymous after filing the complaint, she recently came forward by publishing an op-ed in a Malayalam newspaper, publicly identifying herself as the complainant.
Commitment to Workplace Safety
In an interview with ANI, Asha, an academician and filmmaker, explained how her involvement in women's rights work and associations like the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) shaped her long-standing commitment to workplace safety issues. She emphasised her consistent support for victims of sexual harassment in professional spaces, noting that she has been part of efforts to push for workplace safety policies. "... We have been fighting for justice against sexual harassment. During this period, I have been part of the WCC and have been supporting victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. We have also held various discussions with the government, and a policy is expected to be formed by the Left Democratic Front government," she told ANI.
The Alleged Incident at IFFK
Asha also spoke about her role in the WCC and how it eventually led to her being invited to serve on the IFFK selection jury. She shared that she was part of the Malayalam Cinema Today section, which had five jury members, including herself, with P.T.K. Mohamed as the chairperson. She then described the alleged incident during their stay.
"In this context, I was invited to be part of this year's IFFK selection jury. I served on the jury for the Malayalam Cinema Today section, which consisted of five members--four men and myself... PTK Mohamed, who was twice an MLA, a co-traveller of the LDF, and a producer and director in Malayalam cinema, was the jury chairperson," she said.
"Our jury work began on 24th October and continued until 6th November. On the evening of 6th November, he sexually harassed me by inviting me to dinner in his hotel room, where we were staying for the selection jury..." she added.
Legal Action and Chargesheet
In a significant legal development, Cantonment police in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, filed a chargesheet against PTK Mohamed earlier this week before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-III. The chargesheet includes documentary evidence, such as CCTV footage from the hotel where the alleged incident occurred, and lists around 15 witnesses.
About Asha Achy Joseph
Asha Achy Joseph is known for her work in films, television, and new media. She began her career as a documentary filmmaker and received the Indian Panorama Selection for her first documentary, Anyar (The Outsiders), at IFFI in 1998. She continues to work as a filmmaker and researcher. (ANI)
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