The Kochi City cyber police have launched a preliminary investigation into a complaint filed by Malayalam actor Lakshmipriya alleging defamation by a set of YouTubers. The police have recorded the statement of Ms. Lakshmipriya, a vice president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), after she lodged the complaint last Saturday (June 13).

Police sources said steps were being taken to remove the alleged defamatory contents against the actor from social media platforms and preserve these for investigative purposes. “A decision on whether to register a case will be taken based on the ongoing preliminary investigation. A sub inspector has been assigned to probe the complaint,” a city police officer said.

Actor submits evidence

In a social media post on Saturday (June 20), the actor said she had submitted to the police 93 videos, their links and screenshots of thumbnails in a pen drive along with her complaint. She claimed that a few of the YouTubers mentioned in her complaint have already hidden the videos. “My fight is for all women who are being targeted by such people,” she said.

The probe comes amid a series of controversies involving Ms. Lakshmipriya and other office-bearers of AMMA.

Actor Ansiba Hassan, who has quit as the joint secretary of AMMA following an internal rift, has approached the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Thripunithura, in Ernakulam district seeking a direction to register a First Information Report (FIR) over a complaint filed by her against Ms. Lakshmipriya and a female police officer of the Thripunithura women’s cell.

Ms. Hassan, in her complaint, accused Ms. Lakshmipriya of filing a false complaint against her, and Reshma, sub-inspector of Thripunithura Women’s cell, of subjecting her to harassment and unlawful detention in the name of verifying the allegations against her.

Ms. Hassan approached the court after the police earlier this month ruled out the possibility of registering a case over a complaint filed by her against Ms. Lakshmipriya and the female police officer.