The Kerala High Court granted bail today to prominent businessman Bobby Chemmanur, who had been arrested and was in judicial custody in connection with a sexual harassment case filed by a female Malayalam actor. The court’s case status page confirmed the approval of the bail plea.
Court Highlights Remarks As Potentially ‘Double Meaning’
Justice P V Kunhikrishnan, while reviewing Chemmanur’s bail plea, noted that his passport had already been deposited with the court. He also ensured that Chemmanur would remain available to the police during the ongoing investigation. In the hearing, the court observed that Chemmanur’s remarks about the actor could indeed be interpreted as having ‘double meaning.’
The judge further highlighted that some statements in the bail plea, particularly those addressing the actor’s professional skills and competence, were deemed ‘insulting.’
Prosecution Opposes Bail, Cites Social Media Posts
The prosecution opposed the bail, arguing that Chemmanur’s social media posts were laden with ‘sexually coloured remarks.’ They contended that granting bail could send an inappropriate message to society. In response, the court clarified that the message had already been sent, as the businessman had been in judicial custody since January 9, 2025, following his arrest on January 8.
Details Of The Allegations And Chemmanur’s Defence
Bobby Chemmanur was arrested from Wayanad on January 8 and was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days by the Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II. He later approached the High Court after the denial of his bail plea. In his bail petition, Chemmanur claimed the allegations stemmed from a complaint by the actress, who had publicly acknowledged their long-standing relationship, including her role as the chief guest at three of his jewellery store inaugurations.
In her complaint, the actress stated that during a jewellery inauguration event on August 7, 2024, in Alakode, Kannur, Chemmanur made unwelcome sexual advances, including twirling or rotating her in a sexually suggestive manner while placing a necklace around her neck.
However, Chemmanur vehemently denied the accusations, describing them as false, baseless, and incorrect. He faces charges under Section 75(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for making sexually coloured remarks and under Section 67 of the IT Act for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.
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The Kerala High Court’s decision to grant bail follows a detailed review of the case. The full order is expected to be released by 3:30 pm.
