Mansoor Ali Khan sexist comments row: Leo star fined ₹1 lakh, request to countersue Trisha denied

Mansoor Ali Khan has been embroiled in what largely comes off as a one-sided row against Trisha Krishnan, following unparliamentary comments publicly made by the actor in lieu of the latter. Though Khan did issue a public apology following the threat of a ban from the Nadigar Sangam (The South Indian Artistes Association), the move came simply as an act of tokenism to avoid the ban as Khan directly wanted to go ahead with a defamation suit against Trisha. The latest developments in the ongoing row involve Khan being fined heftily.

Mansoor Ali Khan fined over Trisha Krishnan row

Shortly after publicly issuing an apology for Trisha Krishnan, Mansoor Ali Khan went back on his statement and asserted that he would be filing defamation cases against Trisha Krishnan, Chiranjeevi and Khushboo Sundar. The latest development in this regard, as per a Bar and Bench report, has been the Madras High Court denying the actor permission to file the suits.

Additionally, Mansoor Ali Khan has been levied with a fine of ₹1 lakh. The sum is to be deposited by the actor with the Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai. The court has also affirmed that Khan's attempt at filing defamation suits appeared much like a publicity stunt.

A recap of the controversy

At a promotional press meet for his latest release Leo, Mansoor Ali Khan had expressed explicit statements regarding the kind of scenes he would like to share with Trisha Krishnan, who was also part of the Lokesh Kanagaraj directorial. Trisha's reaction to the same called his intentions "vile...sexist, disrespectful, misogynistic, repulsive and in bad taste".

The National Commission for Women took suo moto cognizance of Khan's statement which was followed by an FIR being filed against him. Khan was then booked under section 354 A (sexual harassment) and section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to outrage the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.