Mohiniyattam Performer Booked For Alleged Casteist Remarks Against Fellow Artist Moves Kerala High Court Against Refusal Of Pre-Arrest Bail
Mohiniyattam performer Kalamandalam Sathyabhama has preferred an appeal before the Kerala High Court against the dismissal of her anticipatory bail application by the Special Court for Trial of offences under SC/ST Act, for allegedly making casteist remarks against fellow artist Dr. RLV Ramakrishnan."The learned Public Prosecutor will instruct the investigating officer to give notice to...
Mohiniyattam performer Kalamandalam Sathyabhama has preferred an appeal before the Kerala High Court against the dismissal of her anticipatory bail application by the Special Court for Trial of offences under SC/ST Act, for allegedly making casteist remarks against fellow artist Dr. RLV Ramakrishnan.
"The learned Public Prosecutor will instruct the investigating officer to give notice to the victim and inform the victim that this appeal is posted on 25.04.2024", ordered Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan while posting the matter for hearing on April 25, 2024.
In an interview to DNA News Malayalam which went viral on YouTube, Sathyabhama is stated to have commented on the appearance and skin tone of Ramakrishnan, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community, without explicitly taking his name. This prompted Ramakrishnan to file a complaint against Sathyabhama under Sections 3(1)(r) of Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Attrocities) Act at the Cantonment Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram district.
The Special judge dismissed Sathyabhama's anticipatory application on April 22, stating that a prima facie case was made out and thus the bar under Section 18 of the Act would apply.
Sathybhama has preferred an appeal before the High Court under Section 14A of the SC/ST Act, stating that she was unaware of Ramakrishnan's caste. The appeal states that the investigation is unwarranted and there is no evidence against Sathybhama for committing an offence under the SC/ST Act.
The plea has been moved by Advocates Biju Antony Aloor, K P Prasanth, Haseeb Hassan M, Krishnasankar D, Asokan K.V, Rebin Vincent Gralan
Case Title: Sathybhama v State of Kerala
Case Number: Crl A 733/2024