Actor Manju Warrier has approached a court in Kochi against filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, alleging that he repeatedly published defamatory and objectionable content about her on social media and other platforms.
The Third Additional Munsiff Court in Kochi has issued notices to Sasidharan, an employee associated with a Malayalam online news portal and Meta Platforms Inc. in connection with Warrier’s injunction suit. According to her lawyer, the court has also passed an interim order restraining Sasidharan from making allegedly defamatory statements against the actor.
The proceedings follow a long-running dispute between Warrier and Sasidharan, who previously worked together on the 2020 film Kayattam.
Manju Warrier Seeks Removal of Allegedly Defamatory Content
Warrier has filed an injunction suit before the Ernakulam Munsiff Court, naming filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, Shajan Skaria, who runs a Malayalam online news portal, and Meta Platforms Inc.
According to details from the plaint reported by legal news outlet Live Law, Warrier has alleged that Sasidharan continued publishing content about her despite criminal proceedings following complaints she made in 2022 and 2023.
Her legal team has also sought directions concerning posts, videos and audio recordings that she considers defamatory. The petition reportedly asks for such content to be removed or for access to it to be disabled.
Warrier’s lawyer further claimed that the court had directed Meta to take steps concerning allegedly defamatory material relating to the actor on its platform.
These are allegations made in the suit and have not been treated here as established findings against Sasidharan.
What Is the Dispute Between Manju Warrier and Sanal Kumar Sasidharan?
The dispute between Warrier and Sasidharan goes back several years and has involved allegations concerning the actor’s personal life and safety.
According to the plaint cited by Live Law, Sasidharan allegedly expressed romantic interest in Warrier, which she rejected. The petition claims that he subsequently continued contacting her through calls and messages, leading her to approach the police.
Sasidharan was arrested in connection with the earlier matter and later released on bail. The plaint alleges that he subsequently made further statements concerning Warrier and the cases against him.
Warrier’s petition further claims that some of those statements associated her with alleged criminal and immoral activities and were intended to harm her reputation. It also disputes an alleged claim by Sasidharan that Warrier’s lawyer had approached him to negotiate a settlement.
The allegations form part of the legal pleadings and remain subject to the court process.
Court Issues Interim Order
The latest development involves the interim proceedings before the Kochi court. According to Warrier’s lawyer, the court has issued notices to the respondents and passed an interim order restraining Sasidharan from allegedly defaming the actor.
The case is therefore not a final adjudication of the disputed allegations. Further proceedings will determine the legal issues raised by the parties.
Sasidharan has previously faced criminal proceedings connected with complaints made by Warrier. He has also publicly disputed aspects of the allegations and the cases against him.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s Current Protest
Sasidharan is also reported to be on a hunger strike outside the Kerala Secretariat. He has been demanding the release of the Hema Committee report and an inquiry into what he describes as a conspiracy behind the cases registered against him.
Meanwhile, Manju Warrier continues to have several projects in her filmography, including Nere Chovva, HappiLoop, Odiyan: The Age of Illusion and Ameriki Pandit.
