Director Jude Anthany booked for insulting Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain

Young director and script writer Jude Anthany Joseph had courted controversy in the past with his rude comments on Facebook. But on Saturday, he found himself in an altercation with Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain which landed him in a criminal case for threatening and insulting the modesty of women.

The police served a notice to the filmmaker directing him to report at Ernakulam Central Police Station after the Mayor filed a formal complaint with City Police Commissioner on Monday.

Jude went to the Mayor's office on Saturday morning requesting her to allow film shooting in Subhash Park, a sprawling public recreation spot under the corporation. But the request was turned down by Jain citing a Corporation Council decision. Jude argued that he was making a socially relevant film with a message and hence the permission be granted. When the Mayor refused to budge, the director got angry and allegedly threatened her during the heated exchange.

It is learnt that the Mayor declined to withdraw the complaint despite high-level intervention. 

Jude Anthany rose to fame with super hit film Om Shanti Osana starring Nazriya Nazim, Nivin Pauly. He invited the wrath of netizens for his rude comments on Kanhaiya Kumar and Kerala Minister MM Mani. His offensive response to some of the disapproving comments by netizens also made headlines.

• Jude Anthany Joseph
• Soumini Jain
• Kochi Mayor