AMMA crisis: Four women members call for seizure of documents from Shwetha Menon’s panel

Published 27 July 2026 · entertainment

The legal battle involving the rival factions in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) has intensified as four actors – Maala Parvathi, Ansiba Hassan

The legal battle involving the rival factions in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) has intensified as four actors – Maala Parvathi, Ansiba Hassan, Usha Haseena, and Ponnamma Babu – have urged the Registrar of Co-operative Societies to seize the books of accounts and financial documents that continue to be under the possession of the panel led by actor Shwetha Menon that had announced its resignation at the general body meeting held on June 21, 2026. In a letter dated July 26, 2026, the actors urged the Registrar to “exercise the powers vested under Section 19 of the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955, and such other enabling provisions of law as may be applicable, to safeguard the interests of the association and its members”. “We further request that immediate directions be issued to the bank concerned to refrain from honouring any cheque or permitting any operation of the association’s accounts until the lawful governing body assumes complete charge of the books of accounts, financial records, banking credentials and other assets of the association,” it said. The actors recalled that Ms. Menon had announced her resignation from the office of president as well as her resignation from its membership at the general body meeting.

She further declared before the general body that the entire governing body had decided to resign along with her. The former president addressed the media outside the venue of the meeting and reiterated that she had resigned both from the office of president and from the membership of the association. She also confirmed before the media that the entire governing body had resigned, they said. The letter states that the members then decided to elect a new governing body in order to ensure the continued functioning of the association. Actor Jagadeesh was entrusted with the process of constituting a new governing body under the chairmanship of Ramesh Pisharody, actor and MLA. The newly constituted governing body was unanimously approved by the members present in the general body meeting. ‘Contrary’ to the declaration The actors pointed out that Ms. Menon publicly claimed that she had not resigned and continued to function as the president a few days after the general body meeting. Such conduct is “contrary” to the declaration made by her during the general body meeting and before the media and is also inconsistent with the provisions of the by-laws governing the association, they said.