Actress Lakshmi Menon named accused in abduction case, HC protection

Actress Lakshmi Menon has been named as an accused in an alleged abduction and assault of a 27 year old IT employee in Kochi that police say followed a late night argument at a pub on August 24. Ernakulam North Police have arrested three people in the case and are conducting a detailed probe, while the Kerala High Court on August 27 granted the actress interim protection from arrest until September 17 as the matter proceeds.

According to the FIR registered by North Police and the complainant’s account, a dispute began inside a bar on Banerjee Road. The complainant, an Aluva resident, alleged that when he and his friends attempted to leave, a group chased their vehicle, blocked it near North Bridge, pulled him out, and took him in another car to the Paravur area, where he was assaulted and threatened before being released. Video footage that has circulated on social media reportedly shows people blocking the vehicle and engaging in a confrontation.

Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya told local media that Menon has been named as one of the accused and that officers are investigating her role. He said charges were registered on information that she was inside the car...