Kerala High Court stays trial against actor Unni Mukundan in sexual harassment case

The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed the trial proceedings against Malayalam cine actor Unni Mukundan in a case of outraging the modesty of a woman [Unni Mukundan v State of Kerala & Anr.]..Justice K Babu passed the order in light of the submission that the matter has been amicably settled between the parties..Mukundan is facing trial for allegedly committing the offences under Sections 354 and 354B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) before a Judicial First-Class Magistrate Court.The complaint against Mukundan is 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.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 had initially granted the stay on the trial, upon being informed about the settlement 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, the High Court lifted the stay, taking note of the woman's submission that Mukundan has been attempting 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 against Mukundan and dispose of the same within a period of three months..In the present plea, Mukundan produced an affidavit dated May 27 in which the complainant-woman stated she has no complaint against him and that the dispute between both of them was personal in nature and has been settled.Therefore, the High Court stayed the trial proceedings against Mukundan.