Kerala High Court closes anticipatory bail plea filed by advocate BA Aloor in sexual harassment case

The Kerala High Court on Thursday closed the anticipatory bail application filed by advocate BA Aloor in the sexual harassment case filed against him, after noting that the alleged offence was a bailable one [Biju Antony Aloor v. State of Kerala]..Justice Sophy Thomas opined that the anticipatory bail application was not maintainable since the offence of sexual harassment under Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is a bailable one. .Appearing for the State, the public prosecutor had earlier pointed out this aspect, that the offence cited in the criminal case against Aloor was bailable.However, Aloor had pressed for anticipatory bail contending that he feared he would be arrested. On February 3, the High Court granted temporary protection from arrest to Aloor, while directing the State counsel to get further instructions on the State's response to Aloor's apprehensions.Today, the Court closed the anticipatory bail plea after concluding that it was not maintainable. Aloor was represented by advocates Udayabhanu, Navaneeth N Nath, Rassal Janardhanan A, Abhishek M Kunnathu, Boban Palat, PU Pratheesh Kumar, PR Ajay and KU Swapnil..Aloor is no stranger to controversy having represented persons accused in several sensational cases including the Soumya murder case, the Koodathayi cyanide murders, and more recently the human sacrifice case.In 2022, the Bar Council of Kerala (BCK) initiated a suo-motu case against Aloor and his associates for a violation of Standards of Professional Conduct and Etiquette during the court proceedings in a gang rape case.Aloor later held a press conference in response where he alleged that persons with some personal vendetta against him had given wrong information to the BCK.