The Kerala High Court has deferred the bail hearing for Boby Chemmanur, a prominent businessman, to January 14, following his arrest in a sexual harassment case brought by a Malayalam actress. Chemmanur is currently being held in the District Jail after the Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II denied his initial bail application on Thursday, sending him to 14 days of judicial custody.
Justice P V Kunhikrishnan, overseeing the hearing, noted that no special consideration could be extended to Chemmanur in this matter. During the proceedings, the court emphasized the importance of restraint in public statements, after which Chemmanur’s counsel assured that the businessman would avoid making unnecessary comments.
The case against Chemmanur stems from a complaint by the actress, who alleges that during a public event on August 7, 2024, at the inauguration of the Chemmanur International Jewellery showroom in Alakode, Kannur, Chemmanur engaged in inappropriate conduct. According to the complaint, after placing a necklace around her neck as part of the event, Chemmanur made unwelcome sexual advances by twirling her around with bad intentions.
Chemmanur’s bail plea refutes the allegations, asserting his innocence and describing the accusations as false, baseless, and incorrect. The plea also criticizes the police’s rapid response to the complaint, claiming that his arrest was carried out with undue haste and without a proper investigation, suggesting that the actions were intended to damage his reputation and disrupt his business and philanthropic endeavors.
Furthermore, Chemmanur faces charges under Section 75(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for making sexually colored remarks and under Section 67 of the IT Act for allegedly publishing or transmitting obscene material electronically.
