Police books director Jean Paul Lal after actor files complaint

Kochi: Yet another controversy has hit the Malayalam film industry as the Kochi City police booked director Jean Paul Lal, actor Sreenath Bhasi and two others based on a complaint from a debutant actor of cheating her and making lewd comments in her police complaint. “The four were booked under Section 420 IPC (cheating) and 354 IPC (attempt to outrage the modesty of a woman) following the complaint lodged on Monday. The statement of the actor has been recorded,” said Prasanth Clint, station head officer, Panangad. A case has also been registered against two technicians Anoop and Anirudh following the complaint lodged by the woman who had been part of the movie ‘Honey Bee 2’, directed by Lal.

As per the complaint, the accused made lewd comments at the actor when she demanded remuneration. “She went to a hotel on the city outskirts to meet the director and seek the promised payment of Rs 50, 000 in November last year,” police said. Sources said the actor approached the cops two days back following which they unsuccessfully held a mediation. However, things took a turn later in the day when she reportedly told an online media that there was no complaint against Sreenath Bhasi and that she had sent a legal notice for using her body double in a derogatory way.

Meanwhile, actor-filmmaker Lal, father of Jean Paul Lal, charged the actor of making a fabricated story. He asked why the woman would otherwise choose to complain after such a long time and even the movie was released in March. “She was roped in for a minor role, but we were very unsatisfied with her work. She was also unprofessional backing out of the project halfway saying she was uncomfortable with a scene,” Lal said. Later the filmmakers changed the script and cut out all her portions.