The Kerala Police on Wednesday arrested businessman Boby Chemmanur after he was booked on charges of making “obscene remarks” about Malayalam actor Honey Rose.
Chemmanur was taken into custody from Wayanad, where he has business interests in the tourism and entertainment sectors.
Kochi city police had on Tuesday registered a case against Chemmanur, also known as Boche, under section 75 (sexual harassment) of BNS and section 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) of the IT Act.
The case was registered after Honey Rose filed a complaint on Monday against around 30 people after being flooded with sexist comments on social media. Before filing the complaint, the actor had taken to social media and declared that she was going to wage war against all those who made obscene comments about her.
Regarding Chemmanur, Honey Rose said the businessman had spoken in an insulting manner to her while at the inauguration of a jewellery showroom in Kannur. At another event, he made obscene remarks against her, she alleged. “I did not react at that moment just because I did not want to spoil the event,” she told reporters.
In a post on social media, she said, “You (Chemmanur) believe in money power, I believe in the country’s legal system.’’
Chemmanur has denied the allegations.
Expressing relief after Chemmanur’s arrest on Wednesday, Honey Rose said, “Over the years, I have gone through many traumatic days and I have faced depression. He had made several comments with double meaning. I was being stalked and targeted repeatedly and my silence might have given the wrong impression that I am enjoying this… I should have reacted much earlier.”
The decision to take legal action was made after consulting members of family and well wishers, she said, adding that they were all supportive of her. “I had spoken to the Chief Minister, who promised stern action on my complaint,” she said.
She also told the media in Kerala that her name should be used in news reports about her legal battle on the issue.
Denying that he had misbehaved with Honey Rose, Chemmanur said, “The incident happened a month back. I don’t know why she has come up with a complaint now. During the function (the inauguration of his jewellery outlet in Kannur), I had compared her with Kunti Devi in Mahabharat. I did not find any double meaning in that reference.”
Boby Chemmanur is the director of Chemmanur International Jewellers and has been active in public life in Kerala. He made news in 2012 when he brought Argentinian football legend Maradona to Kannur after roping him in as the brand ambassador for Chemmanur Jewellers. In 2014, he ran the length of Kerala with the stated aim of raising awareness about the importance of blood donation.
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