Plea In Kerala High Court Challenges Release Of Movie Stated To Be Inspired By Venjaramoodu Mass Murder Case
A plea has been moved before the Kerala High Court by the father of the accused in the Venjaramoodu Mass Murder case challenging the theatrical release of the Malayalam movie Kaalam Paranja Kadha, which is stated to be inspired by the case.
The Venjaramoodu Mass Murder case relates to the alleged murder of five relatives of Afan and the attempted murder of his mother. Afan is arrayed as the sole accused in the case pending before the Principal Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram. The case has received a lot of media attention.
According to the plea, the afore movie's storyline is directly inspired by the case, the trial of which is not yet complete. It is further stated that since the announcement of the movie, several posts were made on social media portraying the accused as guilty and casting aspersions on his family.
The petitioner has stated that the release of the movie while trial is pending would create a media trial and prejudice his son's right to a fair trial.
“The release of a movie based on the alleged crime, while the trial is pending, will Create a trial by media, Influence witnesses and the public at large, Seriously prejudice the accused's right to a fair trial, and Cause irreversible damage to the reputation and dignity of the Petitioner and his family. The injury caused by such a release is incapable of being undone, even if the accused is ultimately acquitted,” states the plea.
The petitioner also seeks a John Doe injunction to restrain all persons from releasing or publishing content based on the Venjaramoodu Mass Murder Case till the conclusion of trial.
As an interim prayer, the petitioner has sought for restricting the makers of the movie, their agents and other persons from releasing any sort of promotional materials, trailers or teasers of the movie pending disposal of the plea. A John Doe injunction is all also sought against media platforms, OTT platforms, social media intermediaries, digital content creators and all persons from making available any movie, documentary, web series, visual, audio or digital content which directly or indirectly portrays, depicts or is inspired by the Venjaramoodu Mass Murder Case.
The plea is moved by Advocates Sajju V. and Ajmal A.
Case No: WP(C) No. 3872/2026
Case Title: Abdal Rahim H. v. Union of India and Ors.