Latest news with #PaleriManikyam


New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Kerala HC stays FIR proceedings against actor Swetha Menon; questions procedure in obscenity case
KOCHI: Expressing doubts about the procedural correctness of the lower court, the Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed further proceedings in the FIR registered against actor Swetha Menon for allegedly making financial gains through her roles in movies featuring vulgar and obscene content. 'I find prima facie substance in the contention of the counsel for the petitioner that before forwarding the complaint for investigation under Section 175(3) of BNSS, the requirements therein, of calling for a report from the police and making enquiry, ought to have been complied with. Considering the short duration between filing and forwarding of the complaint to the police, it appears that no such procedure was followed,' said Justice V G Arun. He also directed the Registry to call for a report from the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Ernakulam, regarding the procedure adopted before forwarding the complaint to the police for investigation. The court issued the order on a petition filed by Swetha Menon seeking to quash the FIR based on a complaint filed by Martin Menacherry, of Ernakulam. Swetha Menon is a candidate in the upcoming election for president of AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) to be held on August 15. The FIR charges offences under Sections 3 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, and Section 67(A) (Publishing or transmitting material containing sexually explicit acts) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Advocates Unni Sebastian Kappen and M Revikrishnan, representing Swetha Menon before the High Court, submitted that the case is an abuse of the process of the court, as the allegations are ex facie absurd and improbable. The prosecution alleged that the accused, to secure monetary gain, appeared in several films and advertisements that contain obscene visuals. The complainant, Martin Menacherry, claimed that the visuals of the accused in these films and advertisements, which are available in public domain, are obscene and vulgar. By appearing in such advertisements and acting in films, the accused allegedly gained financial benefits. The complainant also alleged that the actor appeared in a vulgar manner by acting in a condom advertisement years ago and by acting in films like Paleri Manikyam, Rathinirvedham, Kalimannu, and more. The complainant further alleged that by searching the Internet, one could find photos of the accused, which, according to him, are obscene. The petition by Swetha described the complaint as unfounded, baseless, and absurd, pointing out that the allegation that the accused is securing financial gain by running pornographic websites is made without an iota of material to prima facie justify such a claim. The films in which the petitioner appeared are all duly censored and certified, and have been available in public domain for several years. It is crucial to note that the character portrayed by the petitioner in the movie Paleri Manikyam, which the complainant claims is obscene, earned her a Kerala State Award for Best Actress, stated the petition.


News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Malayalam Actor Shwetha Menon Moves Kerala HC To Quash FIR On 'Vulgar' Scenes Ahead Of AMMA Elections
Last Updated: Shwetha Menon asked the Kerala HC to dismiss a criminal case against her, claiming it's intended to harm her campaign within AMMA before the presidential election. Malayalam actress Shwetha Menon has approached the Kerala High Court seeking to quash the criminal case registered against her, days before the crucial AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) presidential election. In her petition, she has linked the timing of the case to an alleged attempt to tarnish her image within the organisation, where she is a frontrunner. The FIR invokes Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which penalizes the publication or transmission of sexually explicit content in electronic form. It also cites Sections 3 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, relating to prostitution-related offences—specifically, for allegedly maintaining or permitting premises to be used as a brothel (Section 3) and for procuring or inducing a person for prostitution (Section 5). Menon, who is contesting for the post of president of AMMA, stated in her plea that if elected, she would be the first woman to head the prominent film body. The case in question pertains to allegations of obscenity in films she acted in — all of which, she has argued, have long been legally certified by the Censor Board and released publicly. 'The last day for withdrawal of the nomination was 31st July. It is on the said date that Annexure-1 complaint is submitted. It is apposite in this context to point out that, in connection with the election to the association, faction feud, was going on and common consensus leaned towards a women president making her a strong contender for the post", she said. In her petition, Shwetha Menon also said that the films cited in the complaint — including Rathinirvedam, Paleri Manikyam and Kalimannu — were all legally certified and have been available in the public domain for years. She argues that the sudden filing of the case just as the AMMA elections approach appears to be intended to damage her public image and derail her campaign. She has asked the High Court to quash the FIR and stay further proceedings. The outcome of the plea could have a major impact not only on her candidacy but on the trajectory of the AMMA leadership race itself. First Published: August 07, 2025, 14:21 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


The Hindu
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Actor Shwetha Menon approaches Kerala High Court seeking to quash FIR
Actor Shwetha Menon approached the Kerala High Court on Thursday (August 7, 2025) seeking to quash an FIR registered against her by the Ernakulam Central Police on the charge that she performed roles in movies having alleged vulgar and obscene contents for financial gains and that the contents were transmitted via social media and adult sites to gain popularity. She had thus been charged under Section 67(A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and under Sections 3 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 based on a complaint by Martin Menachery, an Ernakulam resident, after the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court issued a directive to the police. Alleging that the FIR was malafide and ill-motivated, Ms. Menon submitted in her petition before the High Court that the movies had been certified by the CBFC and were publicly exhibited years ago. 'I have good reputation in society and have been implicated as an accused in a crime because of mindless reference of a complaint to the police by a magistrate. The complaint raises absurd and fanciful allegations which do not attract the offences alleged even prima facie,' she said. It is crucial to note that the character that the petitioner portrayed in the film Paleri Manikyam, which the complainant says as obscene, bagged the Kerala State award for best actress. The other films made mention of (by the complainant) too were accepted and appreciated in public domain by their quality as a whole, she said in the petition. These films were created by artistes who were at the pinnacle of proficiency in their respective fields. An appearance in a condom advertisement too was duly censored and certified and is available in the public domain, she said in the petition. The FIR against the actor has come at a time when she is contesting for the post of the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), in the election to the executive committee of the actors' body to be held on August 15.


Deccan Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Who is Shwetha Menon? A closer look at AMMA's presidential frontrunner
In Malayalam cinema, she has starred in several acclaimed films such as Salt N' Pepper , Paleri Manikyam , Rathinirvedam and Kalimannu . | Credit: Instagram/@shwetha_menon


Deccan Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Who is Shweta Menon? A closer look at AMMA's presidential frontrunner
In Malayalam cinema, she has starred in several acclaimed films such as Salt N' Pepper , Paleri Manikyam , Rathinirvedam and Kalimannu . | Credit: Instagram/@shwetha_menon