Kochi: Jewellery magnate and philanthropist Boby Chemmanur, who has been in judicial custody for six days in a case involving actress Honey Rose, chose to remain in jail despite being granted bail by the Kerala High Court on Tuesday. Chemmanur cited solidarity with prisoners unable to secure release due to technical hurdles as the reason for his decision.

Chemmanur informed his legal team that he would remain in jail as a protest to support prisoners who are unable to secure release despite being granted bail due to technical reasons.

His decision left his supporters, who had gathered outside the jail in anticipation of his release, disappointed. Both men and women awaited his emergence, only to be informed by his lawyers that Chemmanur would remain in jail. It remains unclear if he will come out on Wednesday.

High Court grants bail after police statements

Earlier in the day, the Kerala High Court granted bail to Chemmanur after police confirmed they did not require further custody. This came after the businessman had approached the court on January 9, following a 14-day judicial remand order by a lower court.

During Tuesday’s hearing, the High Court admonished Chemmanur for his public statements, cautioning him that such remarks could harm others. The court even played visuals of his statements in the courtroom, underscoring the potential consequences of his words.

The case against Chemmanur

The case against Chemmanur began when popular Malayalam actress Honey Rose accused him of making derogatory remarks about her during an incident four months ago. Rose went public with her complaint on social media last week, initially withholding Chemmanur’s name but hinting at further action against his associates if necessary.

Her revelations triggered a wave of cyberattacks against her, leading authorities to arrest nearly two dozen individuals. Following Rose’s formal complaint, Chemmanur was arrested by Kerala Police from his Wayanad resort on January 8 and transported to Kochi, where he was interrogated and subsequently remanded.

While the current allegations have cast a shadow over his reputation, Chemmanur’s business ventures remain unaffected, with new showrooms reportedly opening in several locations. IANS