The case involves allegations made by actress Honey Rose, who accused Chemmanur of making sexually inappropriate remarks and advances during an event in Kannur on August 7, 2024. Chemmanur, however, has denied these charges and described them as “false, baseless, and incorrect.”
Kerala: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (15th Jan) criticized well-known businessman Boby Chemmanur for refusing to leave jail even after being granted bail the previous day in a sexual harassment case filed by Malayalam actress Honey Rose.
The court was clearly upset with Chemmanur’s behavior and asked, “Don’t play drama with the court.”
Justice P V Kunhikrishnan, who was hearing the matter, sternly warned the businessman, “You need not take the vakalat of the remand prisoners. The High Court and the judiciary are there to take care of them. Don’t play drama with the court.”
The case involves allegations made by actress Honey Rose, who accused Chemmanur of making sexually inappropriate remarks and advances during an event in Kannur on August 7, 2024. Chemmanur, however, has denied these charges and described them as “false, baseless, and incorrect.”
READ ALSO: Kerala High Court Grants Bail to Businessman Boby Chemmanur in Sexual Harassment Case
Why Did Boby Chemmanur Stay in Jail After Bail?
The controversy began when Chemmanur refused to leave jail even though his bail was granted.
The High Court took notice of this and asked, “Why was he retained in jail after that?”
The court pointed out that the bail order was uploaded on the official website at 4:08 pm on Tuesday, and the release order was issued by 4:45 pm. Despite this, Chemmanur’s lawyers did not provide the necessary release order at the jail, causing a delay in his release.
The prosecution informed the court that Chemmanur had claimed he stayed in jail because many other remand prisoners, who had also been granted bail, could not get released as they didn’t have the money to pay for the bond.
Chemmanur said, “When they came to me, I told them we can resolve the issue. I stayed back in jail one day only for that.”
The court was not pleased with the businessman’s justification and remarked,
“He wants media attention and is creating stories by keeping the release order in his pocket.”
Justice Kunhikrishnan added, “Why should his bail not be cancelled?”
The judge further warned, “Do you (Chemmanur) think you are above the law? I can ask the police to arrest him and order that the probe be completed in two weeks.”
The High Court made it clear that if Chemmanur continued to act in this manner, his bail could be revoked.
While granting bail, the court acknowledged the prima facie evidence supporting the charges under Section 75(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for making “sexually coloured remarks” and Section 67 of the IT Act for transmitting obscene material electronically.
The court observed that Chemmanur’s words had “double meanings” and added, “Any Malayalee who reads the First Information Statement (FIS) can easily understand that the words used by the petitioner (Chemmanur) are with double meanings.”
Addressing societal attitudes, the judge said, “Body shaming is not acceptable in our society.” He elaborated, “Comments about the body of a person as too fat, too skinny, too short, too tall, too dark, too black, etc. should be avoided. There is a sense that we are all ‘too something’ and we are all ‘not enough.’ This is life. Our bodies will change, our minds will change, and our hearts will change. Everybody should be vigilant while making comments about others, whether they are men or women.”
Chemmanur was granted bail upon executing a bond of Rs 50,000 along with two solvent sureties for the same amount. The court directed him to:
- Appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) whenever required.
- Fully cooperate with the investigation.
- Refrain from influencing or intimidating witnesses.
- Avoid committing similar offenses.
The court warned that if any of these conditions were violated, the jurisdictional court could cancel his bail.
Charges Against Boby Chemmanur
Boby Chemmanur faces serious charges under the Indian Penal Code’s Section 75(4), which deals with “sexually coloured remarks” and sexual harassment. He is also accused under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form. The court noted that Chemmanur had used words “with double meanings,” which was considered inappropriate and offensive.
The actor’s complaint states that during the inauguration of Chemmanur International Jewellery showroom in Kannur, Chemmanur allegedly placed a necklace around her neck and made unwelcome sexual advances by twirling or rotating her.
Despite granting bail to Chemmanur, Justice Kunhikrishnan had made it clear that “body shaming is not acceptable in our society,” pointing out that there seemed to be enough evidence to support the allegations against him.
The court also mentioned that there were “ingredients to attract the offences alleged against the petitioner (Chemmanur).”
Boby Chemmanur was arrested on January 8, 2025, and remanded to judicial custody on January 9, 2025.
Case Title: CD Boby @ Dr. Boby Chemmanur v. State of Kerala
