Kochi-Muziris Biennale cofounder Riyas Komu resigns after sexual assault allegation on Instagram

Riyas Komu, artist and cofounder of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, has resigned from all management roles at the biennale following an anonymous sexual assault allegation posted on Instagram. The accusation, shared via the Scene and Herd account, describes an incident where Komu allegedly entered a woman's hotel room uninvited and assaulted her. According to the post, the woman reported being kissed and groped without consent while staying in Kochi, with the violation reportedly occurring multiple times during her visit. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation has stated that while no formal complaint has been filed, it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, an advisor to the biennale, emphasized the importance of taking such allegations seriously, noting the difficulty women face in coming forward. Komu's departure is temporary pending resolution of the matter. The foundation has committed to further investigation of the claims. This development emerges amid broader #MeToo movement conversations within cultural institutions worldwide.