Boby Chemmanur denied bail in harassment case, sent to 14-day remand

Kochi: Businessman Boby Chemmanur has been denied bail in a sexual harassment case involving actress Honey Rose. The Ernakulam First Class Judicial Magistrate Court remanded Chemmanur in judicial custody for 14 days on Thursday afternoon. His arrest took place the previous day, and he was presented before the court the following morning. The court also considered his bail application, which was subsequently rejected. Following the ruling, Chemmanur complained of ill health.

In his bail plea, Chemmanur’s defence argued that the allegations against him were false and that he had done nothing wrong. Advocate B. Raman Pillai, representing the defence, claimed that the incident had been inspired by a character from the Mahabharata. Pillai also questioned why the actress had delayed filing her complaint. He stated that after the alleged incident at the inaugural event, Chemmanur and Honey Rose had remained friends and later participated together in another programme. The defence further suggested that there may be ulterior motives behind the complaint. Video evidence from the event, shared by the actress herself, was presented in Chemmanur's defence.

Prosecution Opposes Bail, Cites Distress of Victim

The prosecution opposed Chemmanur’s bail, outlining the details of the complaint. The prosecution claimed that the accused had repeatedly used inappropriate language, touched the actress without her consent, and humiliated her in front of a large audience. They highlighted that Chemmanur had shared footage of the incident on social media. The prosecution also noted that the actress had left the event in distress and warned that Chemmanur might flee if granted bail.

Police Detain Boby Chemmanur, Phone Seized

Chemmanur was detained by a special police team from Ernakulam Central Police on Thursday morning at his estate in Wayanad. He was transported to Kochi, where he was formally arrested at 7:15 pm following interrogation. The police confirmed that Chemmanur's phone had been seized for examination. Despite requesting to travel in his own vehicle, Chemmanur was transported to Kochi in a police jeep.

Boby Chemmanur Denies Wrongdoing, Actress Gives Confidential Statement

Upon entering the police station, Chemmanur denied any wrongdoing, claiming his comments had been misinterpreted. Meanwhile, Honey Rose provided a confidential statement before the Ernakulam First Class Judicial Magistrate in connection with the complaint. There are uncertainties about whether further allegations have been made by the actress.

On Tuesday, Honey Rose stated she had spoken with the Chief Minister, who assured her that action would be taken. "I am living in a state with a government and police that provide me protection, and I am certain that I am in a country where I can feel secure. It is this certainty that has prompted me to fight back," she said.