Kochi court orders police probe into actor’s complaint over online videos

The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ernakulam has directed Kochi City police to investigate a private complaint filed by actor Ansiba Hassan over videos published online that she alleges contained false and sexually coloured claims about her. The complaint names actor Lakshmi Priya and representatives of CAN Channel. Hassan alleged that videos were created and circulated through social media with the intention of outraging her modesty.

Magistrate Shana Beegam forwarded the complaint under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Hassan has alleged offences under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act and the Kerala Police Act. She sought registration of a first information report against Lakshmi Priya, CAN Channel owner Sukumar and interviewer Suresh, among others.

The magistrate observed that the digital content would have to be collected and examined to determine whether the alleged offences had been committed. The court said the circumstances described in the complaint prima facie suggested that a conspiracy may have been formed to tarnish Hassan’s dignity. Hassan’s counsel said a trailer had been followed by two longer videos disseminated through the same channel, which the actor was unable to collect.

The court recorded the argument that a police investigation was therefore necessary. The matter was reconsidered after a direction from the Kerala High Court. The Palarivattom station house officer told the court that an FIR had not been registered because a preliminary inquiry had found grounds only for defamation.

Hassan also raised suspicions about the possible involvement of AMMA president Shwetha Menon, alleging that her name and hashtag appeared in connection with the content and that social-media influencers had been contacted. Those claims are part of the complaint; the supplied material does not establish them as facts. Police are now directed to investigate.