Kochi: Kerala Police on Monday confirmed the registration of a sexual harassment case against Chidambaram S. Poduval, the acclaimed director behind the Malayalam blockbuster "Manjummel Boys."

The Ernakulam South Police filed the case on Sunday following a formal complaint from a woman regarding an incident she alleges occurred in 2022. According to authorities, the filmmaker is accused of trespassing into the woman's apartment in the Elamkulam neighbourhood and behaving in a sexually inappropriate manner.

The director faces charges under Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertain to assault or criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty and sexual harassment.

Legal Proceedings

Investigating officers confirmed that they recorded the complainant's statement prior to formally booking the director. "A notice will be issued to the filmmaker asking him to appear for questioning," police officials said Monday.

Background

Chidambaram, who has not yet publicly addressed the accusations, rose to national prominence following the 2024 release of "Manjummel Boys." The survival drama became one of the highest-grossing films in the history of Malayalam cinema. His directorial debut, the 2021 comedy-drama "Jan.E.Man," also received critical and commercial success.