07 August,2025 05:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Swetha Menon
Malayalam actor Swetha Menon recently found herself caught in a controversy after an FIR was filed against her. The complainant alleged that the actor published and transmitted obscene scenes from some of her past movies and advertisements. In the latest update, the Kerala High Court stayed the proceedings in connection with the FIR against the actor on Thursday.
Justice V G Arun reportedly passed the interim order during the hearing of a plea moved by the actor to quash the FIR against her. Additionally, the court also issued a notice to the state as well as the complainant on whose complaint a magisterial court had ordered the FIR to be lodged.
The High Court said there was prima facie substance in the contention of the actor's counsel that before referring the complaint for investigation, the requirements of calling for a report from the police and of making an enquiry ought to have been complied with.
"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. There shall be an interim stay of further proceedings in crime number 1075/2025 (the FIR) of Ernakulam central police station," the High Court said.
The complaint against Shwetha was reportedly filed by a social activist named Martin Menachery. The complaint claimed that Shwetha had shot some obscene scenes in her past movies and that these scenes were being circulated online on social media platforms and various sites. The complaint also specifically cited the actor's roles in films such as Rathinirvedam, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha, and Kalimannu. It also emphasised on her appearance in a condom commercial.
According to reports, the FIR against the actor was filed under section 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) of the Information Technology (IT) Act, along with other relevant provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. An officer in the Ernakulam Central police station reportedly told PTI that no case was initially registered based on the complaint; however, the activist later went to court to seek registration of an FIR.
Notably, Shwetha is currently contesting for the post of president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), after Malayalam superstar Mohanlal had stepped down from the same post last year in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee Report.
In her plea seeking quashing of the FIR, the actor has claimed that the allegations are "mala fide" in nature and the offences she has been booked for are not made out. The complainant, Martin Menachery, has alleged that Menon appeared in a condom advertisement containing her obscene visuals with the intention of securing monetary gain.
Rejecting the allegations, the actor has contended that the films referred to in the complaint were duly censored and certified and have been available in the public domain for several years now. She also said that the character portrayed by her in the movie 'Paleri Manikyam' bagged her a Kerala State Award for best actress.
Even the advertisement, in which she appeared years ago, was duly censored and certified, the plea said.
"The allegation of the petitioner (Menon) being privy to running porn sites is absurd and per se defamatory. It is submitted that such allegations are raised in a callous and irresponsible manner without any supporting material," it contended.
(With inputs from PTI)
