Kerala Businessman Boby Chemmanur Declines Bail, Stays in Jail in Solidarity

Kochi — Jewellery magnate Boby Chemmanur, who was granted bail Tuesday in the actress harassment case, surprised onlookers by refusing to leave jail. Chemmanur, who has been in custody for six days, expressed solidarity with fellow prisoners unable to secure release due to technical reasons.

The Kerala High Court granted Chemmanur bail after police said they no longer required his custody. However, Chemmanur informed his lawyers of his decision to remain in jail, prompting disappointment among supporters gathered outside the facility. It remains to be seen if he will be released Wednesday.

The court’s decision followed a bail plea filed by Chemmanur on Jan. 9, after a lower court remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody the previous day. The High Court had questioned the urgency of the plea and scheduled the hearing for Tuesday. During the hearing, the court admonished Chemmanur for public statements that could be perceived as harmful, cautioning him to exercise restraint. The court played a video of his curt statements in open court.

The case stems from an incident four months ago in which popular Malayalam actress Honey Rose accused Chemmanur of using derogatory language toward her. Rose made the allegations public on social media earlier this week, stating her decision to file a police complaint. She also warned of potentially extending the complaint to Chemmanur’s associates. Following Rose’s complaint, authorities arrested Chemmanur at his Wayanad resort on Jan. 8, interrogated him in Kochi, and formally arrested him.

Chemmanur, chairman of the Chemmanur International Group, is a prominent businessman and philanthropist known for bringing football legend Diego Maradona to Kerala in 2012 and organizing a record-breaking 812-kilometer marathon in 2014 to promote blood donation.

Despite the allegations, Chemmanur’s business operations appear unaffected, with new showrooms planned for various locations.