Actor Athulya Chandra arrested for alleged assault and theft in Kochi

Malayalam actor Athulya Chandra was arrested on Thursday, November 5, for allegedly assaulting a doctor and stealing valuables worth more than Rs 3 lakh in Kochi. The doctor said he had been called to a flat in Vyttila, Ernakulam district on Monday, November 2, after being told the aunt of one of the accused was ill. When he arrived, he found about twelve people inside, including Athulya, and was reportedly attacked. The complaint also says the accused took the doctor's two mobile phones, a smartwatch and earbuds, with a combined value of around Rs 3.25 lakh. Police filed an FIR under sections 127(2), 115(2), 296(b), 351(2) and 310 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and booked Athulya along with two others. One of the other detainees is identified as small‑time actor Bibin Perumbilli. The investigating officer at Kadavanthra police station said the motive is still unclear and that the accused are offering a different version of events. He added that police have not ruled out any angle, including a possible honey‑trap, but emphasized that conclusions cannot be drawn yet. Apart from her role in the 2025 film Dies Irae with Pranav Mohanlal, Athulya has appeared in Ganagandharvan (2019), Innale Vare (2022), O Baby (2023) and Uyir (2026).

Context

The case highlights how celebrity involvement can draw intense media scrutiny to criminal investigations, and it shows that Indian law now uses the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to charge offences such as dacoity and wrongful confinement.