Manju Warrier files defamation suit against filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan
Manju Warrier files defamation suit against Sanal Kumar Sasidharan
Bharatmorningnews.com – Actor Manju Warrier files defamation suit against filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, securing a temporary injunction from a Kochi court. The order restrains Sasidharan from making allegedly defamatory statements about Warrier while the civil case is pending.
The Third Additional Munsiff Court in Kochi issued notices to Sasidharan, Malayalam online news portal operator Shajan Skaria and Meta Platforms Inc. The matter has been posted for November 5, when the summons are to be returned and the petition will be heard further.
Kochi court grants interim protection
Warrier’s counsel, Santhi M, said the actor approached the court after alleging that false claims about her were repeatedly circulated through media outlets and social-media platforms. The injunction is an interim measure and does not amount to a final decision on the allegations.
“A person named Sanal Kumar Sasidharan continuously defames Manju Warrier, gives false news against her, and creates around 10,000 pieces of content daily on media and social media to defame her,” Santhi told reporters.
According to the lawyer, the suit was filed to prevent the alleged online campaign from continuing as the court considers the case. Manju Warrier files defamation suit seeking relief over material she says has harmed her reputation.
“We have filed an injunction suit. In that suit, the Munsiff Court has now issued a temporary order instructing him not to defame Manju Warrier anymore. The Munsiff Court has issued a temporary injunction against Sasidharan,” Santhi said.
Notices issued to online parties
The case also names Shajan Skaria and Meta Platforms Inc., bringing an online news operator and the social-media company into the proceedings. Santhi said the court had asked Meta to remove content alleged to be defamatory towards Warrier from its platform.
Warrier had previously filed criminal cases against Sasidharan in 2022 and 2023, her counsel said. She had also given statements before the court in connection with those matters. The present civil action concerns her allegation that false statements continued to appear online despite the earlier complaints.
The November 5 hearing will be the next stage of the injunction proceedings. The named parties will have an opportunity to respond through the legal process, while the temporary restraint remains in place.
Sasidharan’s hunger strike and demands
Sasidharan is currently on a hunger strike outside the state Secretariat. He has sought the release of the Hema Committee report, a high-level probe into alleged irregularities identified by the committee, and an inquiry into what he calls a conspiracy behind two cases registered against him after complaints from Warrier.
The Hema Committee was formed to examine issues in the Malayalam film industry. Its report has remained a major subject of discussion around accountability and working conditions in the sector. Sasidharan’s protest is separate from the civil case, although both developments involve the filmmaker.
Manju Warrier’s work commitments
Warrier appeared in L2: Empuraan in 2025 and was seen in Mr X this year. Her forthcoming projects include Nere Chovva, HappiLoop, Odiyan: The Age of Illusion and Ameriki Pandit.
As Manju Warrier files defamation suit, the court will examine the claims in her petition and the responses from the parties named in the case. Any further action will depend on the proceedings before the Kochi court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Kochi court order in the Manju Warrier defamation case?
The Third Additional Munsiff Court granted a temporary injunction restraining Sanal Kumar Sasidharan from making allegedly defamatory statements about Manju Warrier while the civil case continues.
When is the next hearing in the case?
The court has fixed November 5 for the return of summons and the next hearing on the petition.
Who else received notices in the suit?
Notices were issued to Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, Shajan Skaria, who operates a Malayalam online news portal, and Meta Platforms Inc.