BJP Minister and actor Suresh Gopi lashes out, pushes reporters when asked about sexual misconduct allegations against Mukesh

Earlier that day, Gopi had criticised the media, accusing it of misleading public perception about the film industry. Claiming that the recent allegations of harassment against actors and directors were like “food” for the press, the BJP minister said they were welcome to profit from it, according to news agency PTI. He also urged reporters not to destroy a huge industry like cinema, implying that the media was blowing the issue of sexual harassment allegations out of proportion. Gopi also stated that as long as the court hasn’t ruled, Mukesh is not guilty.

Mukesh Madhavan is a senior Malayalam actor who has been representing the Kollam Assembly constituency in Kerala since 2016. He won both the 2016 and 2021 elections with tickets from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the largest party in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) alliance. “This is all food for you, is what I understand. You can use it to make money. (There is) no problem with that. But these issues are before the court and it has the intelligence and logic to arrive at a decision regarding them. You (the media) are not only making people fight each other for your own gains, you are also misleading public perception. The complaints are in the form of allegations at the moment. What are you telling people? Are you the court? You are not,” Gopi was quoted as saying by PTI.

“Did the court say anything about Mukesh? When I come out of the office, you have to ask about my office activities. When I come out of the house, you should ask something about that. When I come out from AMMA office, ask about it,” Gopi added, Mathrubhumi reported.

Soon after the actor-politician made these remarks, the BJP state leadership quickly clarified that Gopi’s views did not reflect the party’s official stance. Party state president K Surendran stated that while Gopi, as a film actor, is entitled to his personal opinions, the BJP’s position is defined by the party leadership. Surendran reiterated the party’s demand for the CPI(M) legislator’s resignation, making it clear that Gopi’s comments did not align with the party’s stance.

Reports indicate that the state leadership’s statement aggravated Gopi, leading him to act rudely towards reporters, even pushing them away when approached for a response later today. Suresh Gopi and Mukesh have worked together in several films, including Sundara Purushan, Nair Saab, Thoovalsparsham, Kouthuka Varthakal, Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, Kancheepurathe Kalyanam and Minda Poochakku Kalyanam.