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The Kerala High Court on Monday (September 7) asked the Magistrate to consider afresh the private complaint made by Drishyam actor Ansiba Hassan accusing actor Lakshmi Priya and two CAN Channel representatives of making sexually coloured remarks and circulating objectionable content against her.

A detailed order is awaited.

Justice Jobin Sebastian was considering Hassan's plea challenging an order of the Magistrate refusing to to direct the police to register an FIR and open an investigation in the complaint.

It observed in open court:

"Crl.M.C. is allowed in part and matter is remitted to the learned Magistrate for fresh consideration. The learned Magistrate shall independently examine the allegations contained in the complaint and the materials available on record and determine, in accordance with law, whether the allegations prima facie discloses the commission of any cognizable offence and if so, whether the circumstances warrant a direction for police investigation under Section 175(3) of BNSS. The learned Magistrate shall also consider whether police investigation is necessary for the purpose of collection of evidence which cannot be effectively secured by the complainant herself."

Hassan had preferred the complaint stating that the accused persons circulated objectionable videos of her on social media with an intent to tarnish her reputation and subject her to harassment and public humiliation.

She has alleged that the accused committed offences under Sections 75(iv) [Sexual harassment] and 79 [Word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Sections 67 [Punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form] and 67A [Punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act, etc., in electronic form] of the Information Technology Act, and Section 119(a) of the Kerala Police Act, 2011 [Punishment for atrocities against women].

As per the plea, the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-IX, Ernakulam passed an order declining to give a direction to the police to investigate the allegations made in the complaint even though there were cognizable offences made out.

It is stated that the Magistrate treated the matter as a private complaint and directed Hassan to adduce her sworn statement instead of directing registration of FIR as per Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Aggrieved, the actor had approached the High Court seeking to set aside the afore order. She had also sought a direction to the Magistrate to exercise its jurisdiction as per Section 175(3) and pass appropriate orders directing the jurisdictional police to register an FIR on her complaint and to conduct a fair investigation.

The petition is moved by Advocates Muhammed Firdouz A.V., and Gentle C.D.

Case No: Crl.M.C. No. 6414/2026

Case Title: Ansiba Hassan v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 485

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