Kerala court grants anticipatory bail to actors Mukesh, Edavela Babu in rape case

A Kerala Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Malayalam cine actor and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Mukesh and actor and former office bearer of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists Edavela Babu who were booked for rape in connection with allegations levelled against them by a woman actor..The woman has made serious allegations against several members of the Malayalam film industry in the wake of the release of the Justice K Hema Committee Report which exposed widespread sexual abuse and discrimination against women in the industry.First information reports (FIRs) were registered against Mukesh and Babu for commission of rape which is punishable under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code.Both men were also booked under Sections 354 (assaulting or using criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman with words, sounds, gestures, or objects) of the Indian Penal Code.Mukesh and Babu subsequently moved the Ernakulam Sessions Court with separate pleas seeking anticipatory bail..The verdict granting them anticipatory bail was delivered by Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese today..The Justice K Hema Committee was set up by the Kerala government in 2017 following a petition by the 'Women in Cinema Collective' to study the issues faced by women in the film industry.They submitted their findings to the State in 2019.The State Information Commission (SIC) later allowed a request by certain parties (journalists) for access to the report after personal information was redacted to protect the privacy of witnesses.The report was released on August 19, after two unsuccessful court challenges to halt its publication..Mukesh and Babu are among many prominent film personalities against whom allegations of sexual harassment have surfaced since the release of the report. They have both claimed that the allegations are part of an effort to blackmail him and has stated that he would take strong legal action against those responsible..In his application seeking anticipatory bail, Mukesh asserted his innocence, stating that the complaint against him was made with malafide intention to tarnish his career as both a politician and an actor.Pertinently, the MLA submitted a copy of a communication sent to him by the woman actor in which she thanked him for his kindness as well as a WhatsApp message where she demanded ₹1 lakh from him..Babu, in his application, stated that the complaint is part of a criminal conspiracy fabricated by interested persons so as to malign the reputation of a few actors in the industry. The petitions also pointed out that the complaint was filed over 15 years after the alleged incident took place..Assuring the Court of their cooperation with the investigation and asserting that their custodial interrogation is unnecessary, both actors sought anticipatory bail from the Court. .Mukesh was represented by advocates Geo Paul and CR Pramod.Babu was represented by advocate PP Harris, Abraham Mathan, Antony Thekkekara, and Sohail Ahammed Harris PP.