Latest news with #Kalimannu
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First Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Kerala HC orders interim stay on proceedings in FIR against actor Shwetha Menon
The High Court found merit in Menon's argument, raised by her counsel, that procedural norms were not adhered to since the complaint was quickly passed on to the police without the mandatory report and inquiry read more The Kerala High Court has issued a stay on the proceedings related to an FIR filed against acclaimed Malayalam film actor Shwetha Menon. The interim order, passed by Justice V G Arun, came in response to Menon's plea seeking to quash the FIR, which accuses her of publishing or transmitting obscene scenes from her past films and advertisements. The High Court found merit in Menon's argument, raised by her counsel, that procedural norms were not adhered to since the complaint was quickly passed on to the police without the mandatory report and inquiry. Highlighting the issue, the court said, 'Considering the short duration within which the complaint was filed and forwarded to the police, it appears that no such procedure was followed. Registry shall call for a report from the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ernakulam regarding the procedure followed before forwarding the complaint to the police for investigation.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The court has consequently stayed further proceedings in the case, referenced as crime number 1075/2025 of the Ernakulam central police station, and issued notices to the state and the original complainant, the latter being responsible for the magistrate court's decision to lodge the FIR. The FIR alleges violation of Section 67, which pertains to publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form, under the Information Technology Act, as well as certain provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Shwetha Menon, renowned for movies such as 'Salt N' Pepper', 'Rathinirvedam', and 'Kalimannu', is currently contending for the presidency of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), with elections slated for August 15. Menon, in her plea to quash the FIR, termed the allegations as 'mala fide' and argued that the offenses listed against her are baseless. The complainant, Martin Menachery, alleged that Menon participated in films like 'Paleri Manikkyam', 'Rathinirvedham', 'Kalimannu' and a condom advertisement, aiming for financial gain from obscenity. Menon refuted these claims by pointing out that the films mentioned were legally censored and certified, remaining available to the public for years. Notably, her portrayal in 'Paleri Manikyam' earned her a Kerala State Award for Best Actress. She also affirmed that the advertisement in question was subject to the same censorial scrutiny. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Furthermore, the actor denounced accusations about running pornographic websites as 'absurd and per se defamatory,' asserting that such claims lacked any material backing and were raised irresponsibly. Menon also speculated that the complaint was strategically filed subsequent to her nomination for the AMMA presidency.
Mint
5 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Actor Shwetha Menon gets BIG relief: Kerala HC orders interim stay in alleged obscene films scenes case
On Thursday, the Kerala High Court ordered in favour of Malayalam film actor Shwetha Menon after an FIR was lodged against her for allegedly earning money via vulgar or obscene films. The court stayed the proceedings for now. The interim order was passed by Justice V G Arun on a plea moved by the actor to quash the FIR against her. The High Court has observed that there is a prima facie basis to the argument made by the actor's legal counsel, which stated that proper procedure was not followed before the complaint was referred for police investigation. As per legal protocol, a preliminary inquiry or a police report should have been sought prior to forwarding the complaint. The court noted, "Given the brief time span between the filing of the complaint and its referral to the police, it appears that the mandated procedure was bypassed. The Registry is directed to obtain a report from the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Ernakulam to verify the steps taken before forwarding the complaint for investigation." The High Court has ordered a temporary stay on further proceedings in Crime No. 1075/2025 registered by the Ernakulam Central Police. Additionally, the court has issued notices to both the state government and the complainant who had initially approached the magistrate's court, leading to the registration of the FIR. An FIR has been filed against actor Shwetha Menon under Section 67 of the IT Act (for publishing or sharing obscene content online) and sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Shwetha, known for Malayalam films like Salt N' Pepper, Rathinirvedam, and Kalimannu, is currently contesting for the president's post in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). The election is scheduled for August 15. In her petition to quash the FIR, Shwetha argued that the case is false and motivated. She also said that the charges don't apply to her. The complaint, filed by public activist Martin Menachery, alleges that Shwetha appeared in films like Rathinirvedam, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha, and Kalimannu, as well as a condom ad, featuring obscene visuals for financial gain. However, the actor has denied all claims, saying that all the films and ads mentioned in the complaint, were cleared by the censor board and have been available publicly for years. She also mentioned that her role in the film Paleri Manikyam won her the Kerala State Award for Best Actress. The petition also called the claim that she is involved in porn websites "absurd and defamatory," and stated that such allegations were made irresponsibly without any proof. Shwetha further said the complaint was filed only after she submitted her nomination for the AMMA president post, hinting towards bigger motives.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
FIR filed against Shweta Menon for obscenity ahead of AMMA elections, colleagues call it ‘politically motivated'
The AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) elections are right around the corner, and it seems that the nomination withdrawals aren't the only drama the people will be getting. A first information report (FIR) has been registered against Shwetha under Section 67 A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 on charges of making financial gains through her roles in movies having alleged vulgar and obscene content. Blessy, the director of Shweta's Kalimannu, weighed in on the situation and expressed his confusion over the entire case. He told Manorama, 'Kalimannu went through the censor board and was certified. I don't understand how something that wasn't considered obscene back then has suddenly become an issue now.' The film in question featured Shweta's actual childbirth, and the director admitted that it's possible the scene might have made some people uncomfortable. 'Back then, it must have created a certain anxiety in people, about Shweta's pregnancy, about how vulgar it could get. I don't know. It depends on how people think. Some even threatened to burn down theatres. But after the movie was released, those same people had nothing to say. Their reactions only stemmed from a very ugly mindset.' He added that 'people can choose for themselves if the case is politically motivated or not.' ALSO READ | Sandra Thomas alleges Mammootty urged her to drop KFPA case; claims producers' association chief acts like megastar's 'house-help': 'Mohanlal's people have…' Actor Maala Parvathi has also voiced her support for Shweta Menon, calling the case 'a power tussle that is sacrificing a woman.' While Maala declined to comment further, she stated in an online post that the initial attacks were directed at actor Kukku Parameswaran, who is contesting for the post of General Secretary of AMMA, and that the focus has now been deliberately shifted onto Shweta. It's worth noting that if Shweta and Kukku are elected, they would become the first women in AMMA's history to hold the positions of president and general secretary, respectively. Shweta is contesting against veteran actor Devan, while Kukku is running against Raveendran. The race for these key posts narrowed to two candidates each after several actors, including Baburaj and Jagadeesh, withdrew their nominations.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Malayalam Film Industry Condemns FIR Against Shwetha Menon For Condom Ad: "Baseless"
New Delhi: Several actors from the Malayalam film industry have condemned the complaint filed against actor Shwetha Menon. They referred to it as "politically motivated and baseless". The Ernakulam Central Police recently registered a first information report (FIR) against Menon under Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, accusing her of acting in films and advertisements with alleged vulgar content for financial gain. Actor Maala Parvathi took to social media to express her suspicion that the complaint was part of a larger conspiracy. "It may be a handiwork of somebody whose wish to head the organisation had failed to materialise. Such a conspiracy was plotted against actor Kukku Parameswaran, who is contesting for the post of general secretary," she said. Parvathi pointed out that the complaint was lodged just as Menon is contesting for the post of president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). Senior actor Devan, who is also in the running for the post of AMMA president, dismissed the complaint as "nonsense and filed with an ulterior motive," as per The Hindu. He said, "It will not stand the test of law. We may have differences within, but no member of the actors' body will support such a baseless allegation." Actor Raveendran, contesting for the general secretary's post, also criticised the FIR. "The association would jointly oppose any move to defame members on the basis of such baseless allegations. An inquiry should be done on how this complaint had emerged as it was done with a malicious intent," he said. Background The FIR against Shwetha Menon was registered by Ernakulam Central Police in Kochi on August 6, 2025, based on a directive from the First Class Judicial Magistrate Court, Ernakulam. The action followed a complaint filed by public activist Martin Menachery, who alleged that the actor featured in obscene films and advertisements for profit. The complaint cites Menon's performances in Malayalam films such as Rathinirvedam, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha, and Kalimannu, along with her appearance in a condom advertisement. The police have booked the actor under the Prevention of Obscenity Act and the IT Act. Menon, known for her roles in Malayalam hits as well as Bollywood films like Bandhan and Asoka, is contesting for the AMMA presidency in elections scheduled for August 15. Of the six candidates who had filed nominations for the post, four, including senior actor Jagadeesh, withdrew before the last date of withdrawal on Thursday, according to AMMA sources. The position was left vacant after Malayalam superstar Mohanlal resigned as AMMA president following the explosive findings of the Justice Hema Committee report last year. Shwetha Menon was most recently seen in the Malayalam thriller Jankar, which released last month. Her upcoming film, Karam, an action thriller, is slated for release in September.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Case against actor Shwetha Menon for featuring in obscene films, ads
A police case has been registered against Malayalam actor Shwetha Menon for allegedly transmitting obscene material through electronic means, police said on Wednesday. Shwetha Menon has not issued a public statement regarding the FIR yet.(Instagram/@shwetha_menon) The case stems from a complaint filed by public activist Martin Menachery, who alleged that scenes from some of Menon's older films and a condom advertisement contained vulgar content and were being circulated online for financial gain. Initially, police had not acted on the complaint, but a directive from the Ernakulam CJM Court prompted the registration of the case. An official from the Ernakulam Central police station told news agency PTI that the FIR was filed on Tuesday under Section 67 of the IT Act, which deals with publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form. Reports also suggest that Section 67A - pertaining to material depicting sexually explicit acts - may be invoked, though police have not confirmed this. The complaint specifically cites Menon's roles in films like Rathinirvedam, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha, and Kalimannu, in addition to her appearance in a condom commercial. Authorities allege that these works contain scenes of nudity and were produced with the intent of generating financial profit. As of now, Shwetha Menon has not issued a public statement regarding the FIR. The development comes at a politically sensitive time for the actor, who is contesting for the post of president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). The post was vacated last year after Malayalam superstar Mohanlal stepped down in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee Report that exposed systemic issues within the industry. Out of six initial contenders for the top post, four - including senior actor Jagadeesh - have withdrawn their nominations, placing Menon among the frontrunners ahead of the August 15 elections, according to reports. Who is Shwetha Menon? A well-known figure in Malayalam cinema, Shwetha Menon rose to prominence with performances in films such as Salt N' Pepper, Rathinirvedam, and Kalimannu. She has also acted in Bollywood films like Bandhan opposite Salman Khan and Asoka alongside Shah Rukh Khan. In 2018, she appeared as a contestant on the Malayalam edition of Bigg Boss, hosted by Mohanlal. On the professional front, Menon was last seen in the Malayalam thriller Jankar, released in July. She is next set to appear in the action thriller Karam, slated for release in September. The film also stars Noble Babu Thomas, Audrey Miriam, Reshma Sebastian, Manoj K Jayan, Kalabhavan Shajohn, and Baburaj.
