Kochi, 19 September (H.S.): Actor Manju Warrier has filed a defamation suit against filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, alleging that he has repeatedly made statements intended to insult and damage her reputation.

The suit was filed before the Ernakulam Munsiff Court. In her petition, Warrier has sought directions to remove social media posts allegedly published against her by the filmmaker and to prevent the circulation of further defamatory content.

The legal action comes amid Sasidharan's indefinite hunger strike outside the Kerala Secretariat. The filmmaker launched the protest demanding a high-level investigation into the sexual exploitation allegations contained in the Hema Committee report. He has also sought an inquiry into what he describes as a conspiracy behind the criminal case registered against him.

Sasidharan displayed the Kerala State Film Awards he had received at the protest venue. He said he resorted to the hunger strike because neither the state government nor the legal authorities had intervened in the issues he had raised.

The filmmaker claimed that he had been discussing the matter through social media for the past 100 days but had received no meaningful response. He also alleged that no proper investigation was being conducted into the case against him.

Sasidharan maintained that the issues raised by him had wider social significance and should not be viewed as a personal dispute. Describing his allegations as serious, he appealed to members of the public to visit the protest venue and support his campaign.

He further claimed that he was fighting against a powerful group and expressed fears that he could face attacks during the protest.

The defamation proceedings initiated by Warrier and Sasidharan's hunger strike are separate developments. The court is expected to consider the actor's request concerning the removal of the disputed online posts and other relief sought in her petition.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman