Malayalam director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan arrested for stalking, sending unsolicited messages to top actress

Days after film-maker Vijay Babu was accused of allegedly sexually assaulting an actress, another similar case seems to have rocked the Malayalam film industry. Film-maker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan has been taken into custody for allegedly stalking and sending unsolicited messages to one of the top actresses in the Malayalam cinema.

The film-maker known for critically acclaimed films such as ‘Chola’ and ‘Kayyattam’ was taken into custody by the Kochi City Police from Parasala in Thiruvananthapuram following a petition filed by the actress. The director was reportedly taken to the Elamkara police station where the actress had lodged her petition.

The film-maker has been booked under Section 354D(any man who- follows a woman and contacts or attempts to contact such woman to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such woman). It is a bailable offence. Commissioner CH Nagaraju informed that the film-maker was taken into custody following the allegations made by the complainant.



"There was one instance of physical stalking and several unsolicited messages. Repeated and wilful following of a woman amounts to stalking. He was sending unsolicited messages to the complainant despite being blocked online and has been switching from one platform to another. The lady, hence, feels harassed or comes under the fear that he might come wherever she goes. This element also comes under stalking," Commissioner Nagaraju told media persons.

Reportedly the film-maker has been sharing posts on the actress on social media. However, he had sent messages much before the social media posts that amounted to stalking. According to the police, the accused has repeatedly sent unsolicited messages before taking to social media where he made numerous claims regarding the complainant.

The film-maker in a recent post on Facebook had said that the life of the actress was in danger. He had said that the actress was facing a threat from people she was closed to. Sasidharan even made an Instagram post that the actress was in the custody of some people with vested interest and went on to say that her managers would be responsible if anything happens to her.