On August 27, 2025, the Kerala High Court granted interim protection from arrest to actress Lakshmi R Menon following allegations of abduction and assault of an IT professional in Kochi. The incident reportedly occurred after a dispute at the Velocity pub on August 24, culminating in the IT professional being forcibly taken into Menon’s car, assaulted, and threatened near the Ernakulam North Rail Over Bridge.
The court barred her arrest until her anticipatory bail plea is reconsidered on September 17, 2025. Menon has denied all allegations as baseless and malicious, with three other accused individuals already in judicial custody.
Incident Details and Official Statements
An FIR filed at the Ernakulam Town North Police Station charges Menon under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including kidnapping, wrongful restraint, voluntary hurt, and criminal intimidation. The complainant, IT professional Aliyar Shah Saleem, claimed a quarrel erupted between him and Menon’s group at the pub and that after leaving the venue, Menon and her associates pursued him, forcibly stopped his vehicle near the North Railway Overbridge, and took him into their car where he was assaulted and threatened.
A video clip purportedly showing Menon’s group confronting the complainant’s car has surfaced on social media, intensifying public attention. Menon, through her legal team, has firmly denied the charges, alleging that she and her companions were verbally and sexually harassed at the pub and that the case is a fabricated attempt to defame her.
Legal Progress and Background Context
The case reflects ongoing judicial scrutiny, with authorities arresting three other accused persons linked to the incident who are now in judicial custody. The Kerala High Court’s interim protection to Menon demonstrates judicial prudence in balancing investigation needs with safeguarding individual rights amid serious allegations. The court plans to revisit Menon’s anticipatory bail request after the Onam holidays on September 17, 2025.
The incident has evoked widespread media coverage and public interest, given Menon’s stature in the Tamil and Malayalam film industries. Her filmography includes acclaimed titles such as ‘Kumki’, ‘Sabdham’, and ‘Ronth’.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian upholds the principles of justice, fairness, and empathy, especially in sensitive cases involving public figures. While the allegations are serious and demand thorough investigation, the interim judicial relief highlights the importance of ensuring due process and the presumption of innocence.
In an era dominated by rapid information sharing and social media speculation, it is crucial that public discourse remains respectful, fact-based, and empathetic-protecting the dignity of all involved while allowing legal processes to unfold impartially.
