The Kerala High Court on Thursday (July 23) quashed the criminal proceedings initiated against businessman Boby Chemannur in the sexual harassment case filed by a Malayalam movie actress in 2025. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 392]

A detailed order is awaited.

Justice Jobin Sebastian today allowed the plea filed by Chemmanur to quash the proceedings pending before Additional District and Sessions Court, Ernakulam after noting that a settlement has been reached between the parties.

The Court had earlier stayed the proceedings after noting that the parties have amicably settled the disputes and the actress had filed an affidavit affirming the same. It had then granted time to the prosecution to confirm the genuineness of the affidavit.

As per reports, Chemmanur had posted his unconditional apology to the actress for his misconduct on social media and had requested her to withdraw the case.

The prosecution allegation is that Chemmanur sexually harassed the de facto complainant, an actress, who was invited for the inauguration of Chemmannur International Jewellers Showroom, located at Alacode, Kannur. It is further alleged that Chemmanur adorned her with a necklace in front of thousands of people and caught hold of her hand without her consent and twirled her around.

Further, it is alleged that Chemmanur committed sexual overture when he turned her around to show the back of the necklace. The prosecution also alleges that he made sexually coloured remarks about her on different occasions on YouTube channels and other social media platforms, especially after she refused to participate in other functions that he had invited her to.

Chemmanur was booked under Section 75 (Sexual Harassment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 67 (publishing or transmission of obscene material in electronic form) of the Information Technology Act.

Following this, he was arrested on January 8, 2025 and remanded to judicial custody. Later, on January 14, the High Court had granted him bail. Even though bail was granted to him, Chemmanur continued to remain in bail, leading to sharp criticism by the Court, which also warned to cancel the bail.

Case No: Crl.MC 977/ 2026

Case Title: C.D. Boby @ Dr. Boby Chemmanur v. State of Kerala

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 392

Counsel for the petitioner: M.R. Dhanil

Counsel for the respondents: Zakeer Hussain, K.A. Sanjeetha, and Lovewin Vinu.