Kochi: The Aluva CJM Court on Tuesday granted bail to Malayalam film director Sanalkumar Sasidharan in a case related to online harassment and stalking of a popular female actor in Mollywood. Elamakkara police had detained the filmmaker—known for 'Kayattam' and 'S Durga'—at Mumbai airport and brought him to Kochi on Monday evening. His mobile phone was also seized after he was taken into custody.

While in police custody, Sanalkumar claimed that the police were targeting him based on a fake complaint. He argued that the woman actor would not have filed any complaint against him and maintained that he had not committed any crime “other than loving someone.”

Sanalkumar faces charges including insulting the modesty of a woman, spreading rumours, stalking, and circulating a fake audio clip.

The Elamakkara police had registered the case in January this year after the actor filed a complaint with the DGP. The director had posted multiple images and audio clips on his Facebook page, claiming his relationship with the actor and even alleging that her life was in danger.

Sasidharan's detention at the Mumbai airport on Sunday was a result of a lookout circular issued against him. The circular is connected to a case of online harassment filed by a prominent woman actor in January. The director had recently arrived in Mumbai from the United States, where he had been living and repeatedly posting on social media about the actor. In these posts, he alleged that she was facing threats from a "mafia."

In 2022, the same actor had also filed a similar complaint against the director.