Sanal Kumar Sasidharan detained at Mumbai airport; director claims police ‘fabricated case’; taken to Kochi for questioning

Acclaimed filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan was detained at Mumbai airport on Sunday following a lookout notice issued by the Kerala Police. The action comes in connection with a case filed earlier this year by Elamakkara police, based on a complaint from a prominent Malayalam actress.


As reported by Mathrubhumi News, confirming the development, Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya said, “The detention was carried out under the lookout notice, and Sanal will be taken to Kochi for questioning.”

The director, best known for his unconventional storytelling, was intercepted while attempting to travel. Police had registered a case against him in January for allegedly harassing the actress through social media, after which a lookout circular was issued since he was abroad at the time.

Sanal Kumar Sasidharan's reply

Sanal himself confirmed the news through social media, revealing that his phone had been seized and questioning the basis of the charges. “I don’t know on what basis a stalking case has been filed against me. As per the legal section, if someone follows a woman due to concern for her safety, it cannot be considered stalking,” he wrote.

He went on to argue that the original complaint was mishandled and claimed that his intentions were misrepresented. “From the very beginning, I have been raising concerns about Manju Warrier’s safety… Yet there has been no investigation. This proves my argument that the police fabricated the case,” he stated.

Director questions on police action

In a Facebook post addressed to the Kerala government, Sanal alleged procedural lapses in the handling of the case. “Moreover, the Elamakkara police booked flight tickets and came to Mumbai today just to arrest me — it needs to be examined whether they followed proper procedures in doing so,” he wrote.
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Sanal also claimed to have an audio recording that, according to him, supports his version of events. “Later, Manju Warrier herself contacted me and said that both her life and her daughter’s life were under threat. I even have the audio recording of this as proof,” he noted, adding that the evidence was never examined by forensic experts.

Reportedly, the Kochi police have confirmed he will now face questioning in custody, with further legal action to follow.