Kerala Police step up action to bring back filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan from abroad

Kochi City police take action to bring back filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan from the U.S. on stalking charges.

The Kochi City police have stepped up action to bring back Malayalam filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, who is reportedly in the U.S., by initiating measures to issue a lookout circular against him.

The Elamakkara police had registered a case against him on a petition lodged by a woman actor. He was booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 78 1(i) (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), 78 (2) (punishment for stalking), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 356(2) (defamation).

“All steps necessary to bring back an accused who is abroad would be taken in this case as well. Besides, we have also moved a request to remove the accused’s Facebook posts,” said District Police Chief (Kochi City) Putta Vimaladitya.

The actor, who deposed before the police at the Elamakkara police station on Thursday, has also been asked to move a similar request in her personal capacity.

The police may also seek the help of the Indian Consulate in the U.S.. The police are also verifying the credentials of an audio clip the accused had posted on social media claiming it to be his conversation with the actor.

The police had arrested the accused on charges of stalking the same actor in 2022. He had made similar posts on social media raising concerns about the threats to her life. He was granted bail in that case. The two had associated for a film, which was also produced by the actor, in 2019.