Manjummel Boys director Chidambaram S. Poduval receives anticipatory bail in sexual assault case : Bollywood Information A periods courtroom in Kerala has granted anticipatory bail to Malayalam filmmaker Chidambaram S. Poduval, finest identified for guiding the hit movie

Manjummel Boys director Chidambaram S. Poduval receives anticipatory bail in sexual assault case : Bollywood Information

Last Updated: March 9, 2026By Bollywood Hungama News NetworkTags: anticipatory, Assault, bail, Bollywood, Boys, Case, Chidambaram, Director, Manjummel, News, Poduval, Receives, Sexual

A periods courtroom in Kerala has granted anticipatory bail to Malayalam filmmaker Chidambaram S. Poduval, finest identified for guiding the hit movie Manjummel Boys, in a case alleging sexual assault of an actress. The order was handed on March 7 by Periods Choose Ok.Ok. Balakrishnan whereas permitting Poduval’s plea for pre-arrest bail in reference to a case registered by the Ernakulam City South Police Station.

Manjummel Boys director Chidambaram S. Poduval receives anticipatory bail in sexual assault case

In line with the case data, the filmmaker has been booked underneath Sections 354 (outraging the modesty of a girl), 354A(1)(i) (sexual harassment), and 509 (phrase, gesture or act supposed to insult the modesty of a girl) of the Indian Penal Code.

Whereas contemplating the plea, the courtroom famous the investigating officer’s submission that the complainant is at present residing overseas and has not been cooperating with the investigation. The courtroom additionally recorded that no prior legal antecedents had been reported in opposition to Poduval. One other issue thought of by the courtroom was the delay in submitting the criticism. The alleged incident is claimed to have taken place in Might 2022, whereas the First Info Report (FIR) was registered solely on February 28, 2026—practically 4 years later.

The courtroom additional took word of a defamation case filed by Poduval earlier than the Bombay Excessive Court docket looking for damages in opposition to the complainant. In that matter, the Excessive Court docket had reportedly restrained the de facto complainant from publishing allegedly defamatory content material in regards to the filmmaker on any platform.

Taking these elements into consideration, the periods courtroom noticed that custodial interrogation was not mandatory and allowed the anticipatory bail plea. “Contemplating all of the above stated elements, I’m of the view that it is a match case to invoke the jurisdiction vested underneath Part 482 of BNSS to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner,” the courtroom stated whereas granting pre-arrest bail topic to situations.

As per the prosecution, the complainant alleged that the accused had trespassed into her house in Kochi in Might 2022, entered her room in a nude state and pressed her breast with the intention of sexually assaulting her and outraging her modesty. Poduval, nevertheless, denied the allegations and claimed that his interactions with the complainant have been strictly skilled throughout the manufacturing of Manjummel Boys, through which she had a job.

He additionally instructed the courtroom that the complainant had allegedly launched a scientific marketing campaign in opposition to him on social media, together with posting movies and creating an Instagram spotlight titled “Rapey Dudes,” which he stated brought about reputational harm and psychological misery.

The general public prosecutor opposed the anticipatory bail plea, arguing that the accused may affect the witness. Nevertheless, after contemplating the submissions and out there data, the courtroom granted bail with situations. Poduval has been directed to look earlier than the investigating officer each time required, chorus from influencing witnesses or tampering with proof, and never contain himself in every other offences.

Additionally Learn: Manjummel Boys director Chidambaram booked for sexual harassment in Kochi: Report