Manju Warrier has reportedly approached a Kerala court over allegedly defamatory content circulated about her on social media. The actress has filed a civil suit against filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, journalist Shajan Skariah and Meta, as reported by Live Law website.The matter was heard by the Third Additional Munsiff (RCC), Ernakulam, Smt. Reeja R Nair, on Saturday, September 19. The court issued summons to the defendants and posted the case for November 5, according to Live Law.According to the plaint, Sanal Kumar Sasidharan had expressed romantic interest in Manju Warrier. The actress allegedly rejected his advances. The filmmaker is then alleged to have continued contacting her through calls and messages. The actress subsequently approached the police. Sanal Kumar Sasidharan was arrested in connection with the matter and later released on bail.
Manju Warrier alleges defamatory statements
The plea alleges that Sanal Kumar Sasidharan later made statements concerning Manju Warrier’s personal life. One such allegation, according to the plaint, linked the actress to a married man. The petition also refers to statements connecting the criminal case against Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with an alleged sex racket in the Malayalam film industry. Manju Warrier has argued that these remarks associate her with criminal and immoral activities.As reported by the same portal, the plea states, “Through this scandalous statement, the first Defendant [Sasidharan] falsely suggests that the case registered against him was engineered at the instance of a “sex racket deeply rooted in the Malayalam film industry”. This innuendo directly associates the Plaintiff [Warrier] a reputed actress with an unblemished career, with immoral and criminal circles, thereby imputing unchastity and a lack of moral character. The statement not only maligns the Plaintiff’s reputation but also subjects her to ridicule, contempt and public suspicion, particularly within the film fraternity and among her audience.”
Actress seeks removal of online posts
Manju Warrier has reportedly asked the court to direct Sanal Kumar Sasidharan to remove allegedly defamatory material from his Facebook account, YouTube channel and other online platforms.Her plea includes posts, videos and audio recordings. She has also sought directions against Shajan Skariah over a video allegedly shared through his Facebook page and other platforms. The actress wants the material to be permanently removed or made inaccessible. She has also sought an order preventing Sanal Kumar Sasidharan and Shajan Skariah from publishing or circulating similar content in the future.
Court grants interim injunction
The Ernakulam Munsiff Court has issued an interim injunction restraining Sanal Kumar Sasidharan from publishing or circulating through Meta platforms content allegedly intended to defame Manju Warrier.The order followed a civil suit filed by Manju Warrier through advocate Santha Mayadevi. The lawyer said the legal proceedings followed several statements and pieces of content that allegedly targeted the actress.“My client has been facing constant statements maligning her character through multiple pieces of content made by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan over the past several years. She is a reputed person in society. Some suggest that Manju should break her silence on this issue. She does not have the time or reason to respond to these allegations, and the most appropriate way is to give her response before the court, which we have done,” she told reporters, as quoted by On Manorama.Santha Mayadevi said three interim applications had been filed. The court passed an interim order in one of them.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s previous allegations and case
The court has also issued notice to Meta over the plea seeking removal of existing content and other allegedly defamatory material circulated through its platform. The respondents have been asked to file their counter affidavits by September 30.Sanal Kumar Sasidharan directed Manju Warrier in the 2020 film ‘Kayattam’. He has made several allegations concerning the actress’s personal life and safety over the years.He has alleged that Manju Warrier is being held captive by a sex racket and has sought a government inquiry into the matter. Sanal Kumar Sasidharan is currently on an indefinite strike outside the Secretariat. Manju Warrier’s brother Madhu Wariar recently shared a satirical social media post indirectly mocking Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s protest outside the Secretariat.Disclaimer: The information in this report is based on a legal hearing as reported by a third-party source. The details provided represent allegations made by the parties involved and are not proven facts. The case is ongoing, and a final verdict has not been reached. The publication does not claim that the allegations are true.
