Kerala Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Filmmaker Chidambaram S. Poduval in Sexual Assault Case

A sessions court in Kerala has approved anticipatory bail for filmmaker Chidambaram S. Poduval, renowned for his work on the film ‘Manjummel Boys’. The ruling was issued on March 7 by Sessions Judge K.K. Balakrishnan, who granted Poduval’s request for pre-arrest bail in light of allegations made by an actress.

Details of the Case

The charges against Poduval include violations under Sections 354 (outraging a woman’s modesty), 354A(1)(i) (sexual harassment), and 509 (acts intended to insult a woman’s modesty) of the Indian Penal Code. The complaint was filed with the Ernakulam Town South Police Station.

Court Observations

In reviewing the case, the court noted that the complainant is currently residing outside the country and has not been cooperating with investigative efforts. The court also acknowledged that Poduval has no prior criminal history. Additionally, it was mentioned that there was a considerable delay in the filing of the complaint; the alleged incident reportedly occurred in May 2022, yet the First Information Report (FIR) was only lodged on February 28, 2026.

Defamation Case Considered

The sessions court also referenced a defamation lawsuit that Poduval had filed in the Bombay High Court against the complainant, seeking damages due to claims made online about him. In that instance, the High Court had issued an order preventing the complainant from disseminating potentially defamatory content about Poduval.

Arguments Presented

The court opined that custodial interrogation was unwarranted based on the information presented. The ruling stated, “Considering all the above said aspects, I am of the view that this is a fit case to invoke the jurisdiction vested under Section 482 of BNSS to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner,” while allowing the bail subject to specific conditions.

Allegations and Defense

The prosecution has claimed that the complainant accused Poduval of unlawfully entering

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