Thiruvananthapuram: The Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court is delivering its verdict on a criminal petition filed by actor and former AMMA joint secretary Ansiba Hassan. The petition seeks a directive to register a First Information Report (FIR) and launch a formal police investigation against fellow actor Tini Tom for alleged defamation and communally charged remarks.

 

The dispute and police report

The legal battle originates from a complaint lodged by Ansiba, who accused Tini Tom of running a targeted, malicious campaign to tarnish her reputation. According to the complaint, Tom allegedly spread communally sensitive rumours against her, including labeling her a "jihadi" and falsely claiming that she had attempted to religiously convert his driver.

Ansiba initially approached the Kadavanthra police with her grievances. However, after conducting a preliminary probe—which included recording statements from both actors as well as other office-bearers of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA)—the Station House Officer submitted a report to the Ernakulam Central Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). The police report stated that the investigators did not find solid grounds or material evidence to register an FIR, effectively closing immediate police action on the matter.

 

Escalation to magistrate court

Following the police's decision not to file a case, Ansiba approached the Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court directly. Expressing disappointment over the lack of police action, she filed a criminal petition seeking the court's intervention.

The magistrate court, having reviewed the background and requested official responses, is determining whether to exercise its powers to mandate that the police officially register the case and initiate a comprehensive investigation.