Malayalam Actor Minu Muneer Arrested For Defamatory Posts On Balachandra Menon, Later Released

Malayalam actor Minu Muneer (45) was arrested on Monday by the Kochi City cybercrime police for allegedly posting obscene and defamatory content against veteran actor-director Balachandra Menon on social media. The arrest followed the Kerala High Court’s dismissal of her anticipatory bail plea, directing her to surrender before the police.

Muneer appeared at the cybercrime police station in Kochi on June 30 and was taken into custody. However, she was later released on bail as per the High Court’s directive. She is one of two accused in the case; the second accused has been identified as Sangeeth Luis (45).

The case, registered on October 2, 2024, stems from a complaint filed by Menon, who alleged that Muneer repeatedly made derogatory remarks about him online, shared his photograph, and encouraged vulgar comments. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Luis also made threatening phone calls to Menon on September 13 and 14, 2024.

The accused have been charged under multiple sections, including Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (criminal intimidation), Section 67 of the Information Technology Act (publishing or transmitting obscene material electronically), and Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act (causing nuisance via communication).

The controversial posts emerged shortly after the release of the Hema Committee report, which detailed allegations of abuse and misconduct faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.