23rd AMMA annual general body meeting 2017: Mukesh, Ganesh Kumar offer support to Dileep, actress; lash out at media [VIDEOS]

The general body meeting of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) is being held at Crowne Plaza in Kochi on Thursday, June 29. The 23rd annual meeting started at around 10:45 am, with most of the association members attending the event.

Among those attending the annual meeting are the association's president Innocent, vice presidents Ganesh Kumar, Mohanlal, general secretary Mammootty, secretary Edavela Babu, treasurer Dileep, Siddique, Nivin Pauly, Siddique, Kukku Parameshwaran, Jayasurya, Devan, Mukesh, Chemban Vinod Jose, Joju George, Tovino Thomas, Vinay Forrt, Kollam Thulasi, Shivaji Guruvayoor, Captain Raju, Namitha Pramod, Navya Nair, Vineeth, Lena, Sudheer Karamana, Vijayaraghavan, Honey Rose, Sheelu Abraham, Praveena, Priyanka, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Ramya Nambeeshan, Geetu Mohandas, Urmila Unni, Miya, Krishna Prabha, Suraj Venjarumoodu, Rima Kallingal, Kottayam Pradeep, Mithra Kurian, Mammukoya, Swetha Menon, Lalu Alex, Bhagath Manuel, among many others.

Also check: Why Aju Varghese, Salim Kumar heavily criticised?

However, Manju Warrier, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, Meera Nandan and a few other actors have said that they will not be attending the annual meeting due to their busy schedule.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the executive members of the association had a meeting at Crowne Plaza. However, Dileep couldn't attend it as he was giving his statement for over 13 hours at Police Club in Aluva in connection with the controversial case of the abduction and alleged molestation of a South Indian actress by a gang on February 17. After the executive meeting, Edavela Babu had hinted to the media that they had discussed on the kidnap case of the actress, who is also a member of the association.

Also check: Actress reacts for the first time; warns legal action against those levelling baseless allegations

Here are the live updates, photos of 23rd AMMA general body meeting:

• Press conference started at 3:30 pm
• When asked about association's discussion on the abducted actress case, Innocent replied: "After the incident happened, I had contacted Loknath Behra IPS to take necessary actions as soon as possible. They have already arrested five people in connection with the case."
• Mukesh and Ganesh Kumar lashed out at media. Ganesh reacted: "Both of them are AMMA's kids, and they are equally suffering. We will always support both of them. Each of the members will always stay united.

• "Women in Cinema Collective is not against AMMA or Fefka, and one of the members who attended the board meeting today requested the support of AMMA," Ganesh said.
• Rima Kallingal told reporters that the members of WCC had raised the actress' case during the board meeting. However, the executive members claimed that no one raised the issue during the annual meeting.
• During the press meet, Dileep apologised for the allegations he made against the actress during his telephonic conversation with Reporter channel.
• Both Mammootty and Mohanlal remained silent during the press meeting.

• Director Vinayan was one of the banned members of AMMA. The filmmaker is planning to make a movie on the life of Kalabhavan Mani, had approached Siddique and Ganesh Kumar to be part of the project. It is now understood that AMMA has removed the ban allowing the actors to work with Vinayan.
• Only the members of AMMA were allowed to attend the general body meeting.

• Usage of mobile phones was restricted during the meeting.
• Dileep came for the meeting at 11:15 am and told the reporters: "I have told my statements to police and interacted with media yesterday night. What more can I say now. I am already late, please let me go in."

Edavela Babu has announced that they will meet the press at 3 pm on Thursday to talk on the decisions made after the AMMA general body meeting.