Shwetha Menon moves Kerala High Court to quash FIR over alleged obscene film content, asserting that art is not obscenity and challenging baseless charges affecting her reputation and career.
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KERALA: Malayalam actress Shwetha Menon has approached the Kerala High Court seeking to quash a First Information Report (FIR) registered against her. The petition, Shwetha Menon v. State of Kerala & Anr, is being heard by Justice VG Arun.
Background of the FIR
The FIR, filed by the Ernakulam Central Police, was based on a complaint referred by the Chief Judicial Magistrate. The complainant, Martin Menachery, who is the General Secretary of the Newspaper Association of India (Kerala region), alleged that Menon had acted in obscene films and advertisements which were disseminated through social media and adult websites for financial gain.
The FIR invoked serious charges:
- Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 – Punishment for publishing or transmitting sexually explicit content in electronic form.
- Section 3 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 – Punishment for keeping a brothel or allowing premises to be used for prostitution.
- Section 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 – Procuring, inducing, or taking a person for the sake of prostitution.
Shwetha Menon’s Response
In a filed through Advocates Unni Sebastian Kappen and M Revikrishnan, Menon contends that the accusations are baseless, defamatory, and politically timed to damage her public image and sabotage her professional aspirations.
“The allegations are a motivated attempt to tarnish my reputation and interfere with my participation in the internal elections of AMMA,”
stated Menon.
She notes that the complaint was filed on the last date for withdrawal of nominations for the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) elections, where she had filed her candidacy for the post of President. The FIR was filed almost immediately thereafter, raising suspicions of ulterior motives.
The complaint specifically references films such as:
- Paleri Manikyam
- Rathinirvedham
- Kalimannu
Menon argues that all the above films were certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and widely regarded for their artistic merit. In fact, her role in Paleri Manikyam earned her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress, a testament to the legitimacy and acclaim of her work.
She categorically denies any involvement in pornography, operating adult websites, or engaging in activities that fall under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
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