The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed the arrest of actor Lakshmi Menon in a case involving the alleged abduction and assault of an IT employee.
The court granted the interim relief while considering her anticipatory bail plea and said it would hear detailed arguments after the Onam holidays.
Police have already arrested three individuals allegedly involved in the incident – identified as Mithun, Aneesh, and Sona Mol, all said to have been with Menon at the time. According to investigators, the group allegedly confronted the complainant following an altercation that began in a city bar on Sunday night.
Actor Seeks Pre-Arrest Bail
Lakshmi Menon moved the High Court seeking protection from arrest. In her plea, she claimed that the complainant had insulted her and her associate Sona Mol, which led to the confrontation. The court granted temporary protection from arrest until it hears the case in detail.
Details Of The Complaint
The case was registered on Monday after a complaint was filed by Aliyarsha Salim, an IT professional from Aluva. According to the FIR lodged with the Ernakulam Town North police, Salim alleged that he was abducted near Ernakulam North Bridge as he stepped out of his vehicle.
The complaint states that the accused took him away in a vehicle, assaulted him, and threatened to kill him before abandoning him near the Aluva-Paravur junction.
Incident Linked To Bar Brawl
The alleged abduction and assault are said to have followed a bar brawl earlier that night. Police believe the incident escalated from a confrontation at the bar, leading to the events that took place later. Lakshmi Menon had reportedly been absconding before moving the High Court.
The court will take up detailed arguments on the anticipatory bail petition after the Onam break. Until then, the interim order provides Menon temporary relief from arrest, while the police continue their investigation.
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