Actor Lakshmi Menon, three others booked for alleged abduction of Kochi techie

Young actor Lakshmi Menon, known for her roles in Malayalam and Tamil films, has been booked by the Ernakulam North Police, along with three others, in a case of alleged abduction and assault of an IT employee in Kochi. Three of the accused, Midhun, Aneesh and Sonamol, have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, while the Kerala High Court on Wednesday (August 27, 2025) restrained the arrest of Ms. Lakshmi until September 17.

The case was registered on Monday (August 25, 2025) based on a complaint filed by an IT employee, Aliyarsha Salim, from Aluva. The alleged incident of abduction and assault followed a bar brawl in the city on Sunday (August 24, 2025) night, according to the FIR.

The groups allegedly engaged in an altercation inside the bar following which they left the premises. According to the FIR, the accused gang intercepted Mr. Aliyarsha’s car, hurled expletives at him and his friends around 11.45 pm. near Ernakulam North Bridge. The accused forcibly took Mr. Aliyarsha away when he came out of his vehicle. He was allegedly beaten up and threatened with murder by the abductors before being abandoned near Aluva-Paravur junction. The police managed to nab three of the accused, not Lakshmi following the alleged incident.

The FIR has mentioned only Midhun’s name. A senior officer of Kochi City Police confirmed to The Hindu that the actor has been arraigned as the third accused in the case. TV channels on Wednesday (August 27, 2025) aired a video clip allegedly showing Ms. Lakshmi at the crime scene.

The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) 2023, including Section 140(2) (kidnapping for ransom or coercion), Section 126 (wrongful restraint), and Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation).

Ms. Lakshmi moved the high court seeking pre-arrest bail with the contention that the complainant had insulted her and Sonamol the complainant managed to register the case fearing arrest.