Kerala High Court quashes sexual harassment case against actor Unni Mukundan

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday quashed the criminal proceedings against Malayalam cine actor Unni Mukundan in a sexual harassment case. [Unni Mukundan v State of Kerala & Anr.]..Justice Gopinath P passed the order after noting that a settlement had been reached between the actor and the complainant-woman. "No public interest will be served by continuing with the proceedings against the petitioner (Mukundan). Chances of a successful prosecution are also minimal in light of the settlement arrived at between the parties," the order stated. .Mukundan was facing trial for allegedly committing the offences under Sections 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) and 354B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) before a Judicial First-Class Magistrate Court.The allegation against the actor was that he forcefully tried to kiss and rape the complainant, an Austrian woman of Indian origin, when she had gone to meet him to brief him about a story for a prospective movie.The trial court while dealing with the matter had held that the material made available disclosed the existence of all the ingredients constituting the alleged offences.Therefore, it dismissed Mukundan's application seeking discharge and decided to frame charges against him.Thereafter, Mukundan approached the Session Court with a revision petition challenging the decision of the trial court. The Sessions Court dismissed the petition and confirmed the findings of the trial court.When Mukundan moved the High Court, it initially granted a stay on the trial upon being informed about a settlement with the complainant through an affidavit.The affidavit that was supposedly signed by the woman was submitted by Mukundan, through advocate Saiby Jose Kidangoor, who is himself embroiled in a bribery scam.However, on February 9 this year, the High Court lifted the stay after taking note of the woman's submission that Mukundan had attempted to compel her to withdraw the case using delaying tactics.On May 23, the High Court refused to quash the criminal proceedings against Mukundan and directed that the trial court should proceed with the trial and dispose of the same within three months.In the present plea, another affidavit dated May 27 was produced. The affidavit was signed by the complainant-woman and it stated that the dispute between both of them was personal in nature and had been settled. Today, the counsel for the woman confirmed that she did not wish to continue the proceedings against Mukundan. Taking note of the same, the High Court quashed the proceedings against the actor.