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Ernakulam: With eight days left for the AMMA elections with actor Shwetha Menon contesting for the president post. The 51-year-old actor has filed a petition in the Kerala High Court seeking a stay on the criminal proceedings initiated against her in a case alleging that she earned money by acting in obscene films and advertisements.
In her petition, Shwetha contends that the proceedings have been initiated against her with “manifest malafides” and that she is a respected cine artist with a good reputation in society. The allegations, she argues, are baseless and unsupported by any tangible evidence.
Meanwhile, a large section within the film fraternity suspect that a member of AMMA itself is behind the case.
“We suspect an actor’s involvement in the case. The individual wanted to halt Shwetha contesting for the top post. I would refrain from further speaking about the matter”, said Malayalam cinema actor Devan
The petition states that all the films and advertisements she appeared in were duly censored, certified, and have been publicly available for years. She further says that calling her work obscene is unfair and baseless, especially since her performance in the movie ‘Paleri Manikyam’ won a Kerala State Award, and her appearance in a condom ad was also legally approved and publicly accessible.
The petition further states that the allegation of her involvement in running porn sites is baseless, defamatory, and made without any evidence. She adds that the entire complaint, including claims of a sex and drug racket, is irresponsible and a product of the complainant’s wild imagination.
On Wednesday, the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court directed the filing of a case against the actor based on a complaint filed by social activist Martin Menachery from Ernakulam. Following this, the Ernakulam Central Police registered an FIR under Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, which deals with punishment for publishing or transmitting sexually explicit material in electronic form. She is also facing charges under Sections 3 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
“Many in the film fraternity has decided to stand united with Shwetha in the matter. This is nothing but a cheap intimidation tactics”, said actor Mala Parvathy.
With actor Jagadeesh withdrawing from the race, Shwetha is now pitted against actor Devan in the upcoming election.
