HC quashes case against actor Shweta Menon

The Kerala High Court has quashed the proceedings in a case registered against actor Shweta Menon on the charge of acting in movies and advertisements that allegedly contained obscene visuals for financial gain.

Considering the actor’s plea seeking to quash the case, a Bench of Justice C.S. Dias said the allegations would not constitute the offences alleged against her, even if they were taken at face value. Moreover, the complaint was filed with the motive of tarnishing the name and reputation of the actor who did not have any such criminal antecedents, the court observed and went on to quash the proceedings against her. The court had earlier granted an interim stay on the proceedings against the actor.

The FIR had further mentioned that these contents were transmitted via social media and adult sites to gain popularity. She was charged under Section 67(A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and under Sections 3 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 after the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate court issued a directive to the police based on a complaint by Martin Menachery, an Ernakulam resident. 

Rebutting the allegations, Ms. Menon submitted in her petition before the High Court that the movies in question had been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification and were publicly exhibited years ago. The character that she portrayed in the film Paleri Manikyam, which the complainant says was obscene, had bagged the Kerala State award for the best actress.