Court rejects Ansiba’s FIR application, finding no cognizable offence

The First Class Judicial Court, Ernakulam, dismissed actress Ansiba Hassan’s plea seeking registration of a First Information Report (FIR) based on her complaint against co-star Lakshmipriya and two representatives of an online media.

Ms. Hassan accused them of circulating the videos on social media platforms with the intention of tarnishing her image and subjecting her to public humiliation.

Instead, she was ordered to appear in court to record an affidavit. After examining the complaint, the supporting affidavit and the submission made by the Palarivattom Station House Officer (SHO), Justice Shana Beegam found that no cognizable offense has been committed at present to warrant the transfer of the complaint to the SHO.

Ms. Hassan went to court alleging inaction by the police on her complaint, after which the court directed the police to file an explanation on July 9, 2026. Her counsel argued that the acts of the accused attract cognizable offenses and therefore warrant registration of an FIR. Ms Hassan is now set to challenge the verdict in the Kerala High Court.

In his submission, the Palarivattom SHO said that the preliminary inquiry was conducted after obtaining permission from the Ernakulam Deputy Commissioner as he was not sure whether a cognizable offense warranting such an inquiry under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) had been committed. Subsequently, six people were interviewed, their statements recorded and a video collected from the YouTube channel “Can Media”. He added that Ms. Hassan’s statement was not recorded because he was not prepared for it. The conclusions of the preliminary investigation were sent to her by e-mail on 8 July 2026.

The SHO further stated that based on the preliminary assessment, there was no scope for invoking cognizable offenses and that the matter related only to Section 356 of the BNS (criminal defamation). So no complaint was registered.

Ms. Hassan, however, argued that the alleged acts of the accused attract Section 75 of the BNS (sexual harassment), Section 79 (word, gesture or act with intent to insult the modesty of a woman), Section 67 of the Information Technology Act (publication or transmission of obscene material in electronic form) and Section 119 of the Kerala Police Atrocities and Privacy Act against women in public or private (atrocities and privacy).

Published – 27 Jul 2026 22:13 IST