Kerala court orders FIR against Malayalam actor Lakshmi Priya, husband, woman cop in Ansiba Hassan harassment case

KOCHI: A Kerala court has ordered the registration of an FIR against Malayalam actor Lakshmi Priya, her husband and a woman police officer after actor Ansiba Hassan alleged she was illegally detained, emotionally harassed and forced to apologise at a women's police cell in Kochi.The court said the allegations warranted a detailed police investigation.The Tripunithura Judicial First Class Magistrate P M Aminakutty directed the Station House Officer of Hill Palace Police Station to register an FIR and investigate the complaint filed by Hassan under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).The order was passed after Hassan appeared before the court during the hearing of her petition against Lakshmi Priya, her husband Jayesh and Reshma, a sub-inspector attached to the Tripunithura Women's Cell."Since a detailed investigation into the offences alleged against the accused has to be conducted by the police to elicit the truth, the complaint is forwarded to the SHO, Hill Palace Police Station, for registering an FIR and conducting an investigation under Section 175(3) of the BNSS," the court said in its order.The case relates to an incident in which Hassan was summoned to the Women's Cell at Hill Palace Police Station following a complaint lodged by Lakshmi Priya, who had alleged that she received a WhatsApp message from the actor.

In her complaint before the magistrate, Hassan alleged that she was illegally detained at the Women's Cell for nearly three hours, subjected to emotional harassment and released only after being compelled to write and sing an apology.She further alleged that the written apology was later altered without her knowledge.Before approaching the court, Hassan had filed a complaint with the Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner of Police.

However, after conducting a preliminary inquiry, the police decided not to register an FIR, PTI reported.Following that decision, Hassan subsequently moved the magistrate's court, seeking appropriate directions.Separately, another Malayalam actor, Tini Tom, was recently booked on a court's directions over allegations of making communal remarks against Hassan, a charge he has denied.(With agency inputs)