Kerala HC grants anticipatory bail to advocate accused of sexually harassing woman lawyer in court

The Kerala High Court recently granted anticipatory bail to an advocate accused of sexually harassing a female advocate inside a court hall in Palakkad.

Justice Kauser Edappagath passed the order after finding that the accused lawyer's custodial interrogation was not necessary.

"Considering the allegations made against the applicant, his custodial interrogation seems unnecessary. For these reasons, I find this to be an appropriate case to grant pre- arrest bail to the applicant," the Court's September 11 order said.

It also took note of the fact that a separate criminal case had earlier been registered against the female advocate and some others at the instance of the accused advocate.

According to the prosecution, the alleged sexual harrassment incident took place at around 11:40 AM on August 5, inside the Additional District and Sessions Court-V at Palakkad.

The complainant advocate claimed that while she was leaving the court hall, the accused advocate pressed her buttocks with sexual intent.

The complainant advocate proceeded to file a complaint at the Palakkad Town South Police Station. The first information report (FIR) registered on this complaint cited the offence under Section 75(1)(i) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), which deals with the crime of sexual harassment.

The accused lawyer denied the allegations. He maintained that he was innocent and had been falsely implicated. He proceeded to seeking anticipatory bail in the matter.

The State opposed the anticipatory bail plea. It told the High Court that granting the accused lawyer anticipatory bail could affect the investigation.

After examining the case diary, the Court noted that both the accused and the complainant were advocates practising at the Palakkad court centre and that another criminal case had been registered against the complainant at the accused's instance.

After noting that the accused man's custodial interrogation was also unnecessary in this case, the Court proceeded to grant him anticipatory bail provided he executes a bond of ₹1 lakh.

The accused lawyer was directed to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigating officer every Saturday until further orders. He has also been restrained from contacting prosecution witnesses, tampering with evidence or leaving Kerala without the trial court's permission.

Advocate M Revikrishnan appeared for the accused lawyer.

Senior public prosecutor Aneeda Beegum represented the State.

[Read Order]