The First Class Judicial Magistrate Court in Ernakulam on Thursday, January 9, remanded businessman Boby Chemmanur in judicial custody for 14 days in connection with the sexual harassment complaint filed by Malayalam actor Honey Rose. The police had arrested him on January 8, a day after actor Honey Rose registered a complaint with the Ernakulam Central police against him for making sexually loaded comments against her. After the court rejected his bail plea, Boby Chemmanur allegedly experienced physical discomfort and fainted. He was later taken to the Ernakulam General Hospital for a medical examination.
Honey first spoke up about the persistent harassment she faced from an “individual” on January 5. She posted it on her social media accounts without mentioning Boby Chemmannur's name. Two days later she filed a police complaint and Boby was booked under Section 75(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for making sexually inappropriate remarks, a form of sexual harassment, as well as under Section 67 of the IT Act for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form. He was taken into custody in Wayanad by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and was brought to Kochi.
Speaking to TNM, Honey said four months ago, she was invited to inaugurate a showroom of Boby Chemmanur International Jewellers and during the event, Boby Chemmanur made obscene and sexually coloured comments. He also held her hand without her consent. She informed the person who contacted her for the event about the discomfort she faced due to the behaviour of Boby Chemmanur but he continued to allegedly harass her through social media through verbal comments.
Boby Chemmanur has denied these allegations and said he did not have any ill intentions while making these comments. He also said he was confused why a complaint was being filed months after the event was held.