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Kerala Magistrate Court Directs Police Probe Against Lakshmi Priya Under
In a significant development for victims of online , the , has directed the to register an and investigate a filed by actor Ansiba Hassan against fellow actor Lakshmi Priya and two representatives of . The order, passed by Magistrate Smt. Shana Beegam under , comes after the set aside an earlier that had declined to order .
The complaint alleges that the accused persons circulated sexually coloured and obscene videos targeting Ms. Hassan through social media platforms, with the intent to tarnish her reputation and humiliate her. The court found grounds to suspect a conspiracy and directed the police to collect and examine digital evidence to determine whether the alleged offences under the , , and are made out.
The Complaint and Initial Police Inaction
Ms. Hassan, a member of the and known for her role in the film Drishyam , filed a complaint with the in Kochi. She alleged that the accused had published and disseminated videos containing false and sexually coloured allegations against her. However, the police declined to register an , stating that a preliminary inquiry revealed only and not cognizable offences.
Frustrated by the lack of police action, Ms. Hassan approached the Magistrate Court with a . The Magistrate initially treated the matter as a rather than directing , effectively requiring Ms. Hassan to lead evidence herself. This approach placed an undue burden on the complainant, particularly given the nature of digital content that may be difficult to collect without state machinery.
High Court Intervention
Ms. Hassan challenged the Magistrate’s order before the . On , Justice Jobin Sebastian set aside the earlier order, observing that the complaint had not been properly considered before the court concluded whether the allegations disclosed a . The High Court directed the Magistrate to independently examine the allegations and the materials on record and determine whether a was warranted.
Justice Sebastian’s ruling emphasized that a Magistrate must not mechanically reject a request for under (analogous to ) when the complaint discloses a . The High Court noted that the complainant’s inability to collect certain digital evidence—such as two lengthy videos published after the trailer—underscored the necessity of .
Magistrate’s Order and Reasoning
Pursuant to the High Court’s direction, Magistrate Shana Beegam reconsidered the complaint. In her order, she noted that the entire digital content would have to be collected and examined to determine whether the alleged offences were made out. The magistrate observed:
"
, the circumstances alleged in the complaint suggested that a conspiracy had been hatched among the parties against the petitioner to tarnish her dignity."
The court specifically highlighted that the complainant had raised suspicions about the possible involvement of AMMA president Shwetha Menon. According to the complaint, Ms. Lakshmi Priya had referred to the president in the impugned video, and the manner in which her name was used in conjunction with highly offensive content gave rise to a reasonable suspicion warranting investigation. The petitioner further alleged that the president had contacted certain social media influencers to propagate a false narrative against her.
The magistrate accordingly forwarded the complaint to the Station House Officer of for registration of and investigation under . The order directs the police to investigate allegations under , (punishment for publishing and sexually explicit acts in electronic form), and (punishment for ). The complaint also invoked , though the magistrate’s order primarily focused on the and modesty-related offences.
Legal Provisions and Significance
The case underscores the importance of , which empowers a Magistrate to order upon receipt of information of commission of cognizable offences. This provision is a crucial tool for complainants who face police apathy, as it allows the judiciary to compel law enforcement to act. The High Court’s direction to reconsider the complaint afresh reinforces that Magistrates must apply their mind independently and not merely adopt the police’s preliminary assessment.
The offences invoked cover a range of harmful conduct: under BNS, , publication of in electronic form, and specific state-level provisions against . The inclusion of (Section 61 BNS) indicates the complainant’s allegation of a coordinated effort involving multiple individuals.
Broader Implications for Social Media Harassment
This case highlights the challenges faced by public figures, especially women in the entertainment industry, when targeted by coordinated online harassment campaigns. The court’s willingness to order a —even after initial police inaction—sends a strong message that digital content can constitute serious offences beyond mere .
For legal practitioners, the case serves as a reminder of the strategic importance of private complaints under . When police refuse to register an , approaching the Magistrate with a well-documented complaint, supported by relevant legal provisions, can compel investigation. The High Court’s supervisory role in ensuring that Magistrates do not abdicate their duty to examine complaints carefully is equally significant.
Moreover, the mention of potential involvement of an industry body president underscores the complex power dynamics within professional associations. While the allegations against Ms. Menon remain unproven, the court’s observation that a reasonable suspicion exists warrants investigation into whether institutional figures may be complicit in or benefit from the dissemination of defamatory content.
Conclusion
The Ernakulam Magistrate Court’s direction to register an against Lakshmi Priya and others marks a pivotal step in Ansiba Hassan’s fight against online . By invoking and following the High Court’s guidance, the judiciary has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the dignity of women in the digital age. The case will be closely watched as it progresses, particularly regarding the collection of electronic evidence and the potential liability of those who orchestrate or amplify harmful content. For now, the order stands as a reminder that the law provides remedies even when initial institutional responses fall short.
