The Kadavanthra police have recorded the statement of actor Tini Tom based on a complaint filed against him by fellow actor Ansiba Hassan, accusing him of making derogatory and communal remarks against her.

The police recorded Mr. Tom’s statement on Monday evening as part of a preliminary investigation into the allegations raised by Ms. Hassan, former joint secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA).

Police sources said Mr. Tom refuted making any communal remarks against Ms. Hassan and accused the Drishyam actor of filing the complaint against him out of “personal vendetta.”

The police had earlier recorded the statements of AMMA president Shweta Menon and executive committee member Neena Kurup. Ms. Menon has reportedly denied coming across any derogatory comments made by Mr. Tom against Ms. Hassan. Ms. Kurup had earlier come out in support of Ms. Hassan and filed a complaint against Mr Tom to the AMMA leadership accusing him of “repeated verbal abuse and attempted physical assault.”

“The statements of a few more people mentioned in the complaint were recorded and a report based on our inferences will be submitted to the higher officers without delay,” an officer with the Kadavanthra police said.

The preliminary probe has been progressing even as Ms. Hassan approached the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Thripunithura, in Ernakulam district seeking a direction to register a First Information Report (FIR) over another complaint filed by her against fellow actor Lakshmipriya and Sub Inspector Reshma of the Thripunithura women’s cell.

The actor had approached the court after the Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) ruled out the possibility of registering a case over the complaint. Ms. Hassan has accused Lakshmipriya, the vice president of AMMA, of filing a false complaint against her, and the female police officer of subjecting her to harassment and unlawful detention in the name of verifying an earlier complaint filed against her by Ms. Lakshmipriya.