In a significant legal decision, the Kerala High Court has quashed the criminal case filed by an actress against filmmaker Sreekumar Menon. The court ruled that the allegations, which included stalking, obscenity, and intent to insult a woman’s modesty, did not substantiate the charges under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The case stemmed from a 2019 complaint by the actress, who had previously collaborated with Menon’s advertising agency and worked under his direction in a film. She claimed that following a disagreement over their professional partnership, Menon became vengeful, subjecting her to mental harassment during the film’s release and promotional activities. The actress also alleged that Menon had targeted her associates and attempted to tarnish her reputation, and that she feared he would misuse signed blank documents she had entrusted to him.
Despite these claims, the court found no grounds for the charges, including stalking (Section 354D), obscene acts (Section 294(b)), and insulting a woman’s modesty (Section 509). The court also noted that an additional charge under the Kerala Police Act for causing nuisance was invalid, as the required permission to prosecute Menon had not been obtained.
Menon’s legal team argued that the case was filed in retaliation for their professional fallout, seeking to end the harassment. The state, on the other hand, brought forward claims of Menon sending defamatory messages through social media and allegedly making derogatory comments at a Dubai airport in 2018.
However, the court observed that the Dubai incident was not part of the original complaint and occurred outside the jurisdiction of Indian law, requiring governmental sanction for prosecution. Moreover, the alleged comment at the airport, while potentially defamatory, did not meet the threshold for an obscene act under Indian law.
The High Court further emphasized that a woman’s disagreements with a man, even when accompanied by unpleasant remarks, do not equate to stalking or insulting her modesty. Citing previous legal precedents, the court concluded that Menon’s actions, although contentious, did not constitute criminal behavior as per the law.
With these observations, the court granted Menon’s plea to have the charges against him dismissed, bringing an end to the legal proceedings initiated by the actress.
