Malayalam actress Lakshmi Menon has been named as an accused in a case involving the kidnapping and assault of a young IT employee in Kochi, Kerala. Police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and one of her friends has already been arrested.

The Incident

The incident happened on Sunday night, August 24, after a heated argument in a city bar. According to reports, a gang allegedly abducted a 27-year-old IT professional and later released him in Kochi after physically attacking him. Police have so far arrested three people linked to the case, including a friend of the actress.

Actress Under Spotlight

Reports suggest that Lakshmi Menon was also inside the kidnappers’ car during the incident. Videos that surfaced online show her and a few others blocking a vehicle and arguing on the road.

Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya confirmed her involvement. He said, “An argument broke out at a bar. Later, the accused blocked the vehicle of a group of IT employees near the North Bridge in Ernakulam. They then abducted one of them. Following a complaint from another member of the group, the North Police registered a case.” However, he clarified that her name has not yet been included in the First Information Report (FIR).

Who Is Lakshmi Menon?

Lakshmi Menon, born on May 19, 1996, in Kochi, is an actress who has worked in both Malayalam and Tamil cinema. She entered the film industry in 2011 with the Malayalam movie Raghuvinte Swantham Raziya.

Her breakthrough came in 2012 with the Tamil film Sundara Pandian, starring opposite M. Sasikumar. The role brought her critical acclaim and awards. She later gained recognition for films like Kumki (2012), Jigarthanda (2014), and Vedalam (2015). More recently, she appeared in Chandramukhi 2 (2023) and Sabdham (2025), where she played the role of a professor.