Kerala High Court Grants Pre-Arrest Bail To Lawyer Accused Of Sexually Harassing Lady Advocate, Notes Prior Counter Case
The Kerala High Court recently granted anticipatory bail to a lawyer, who is accused of sexually harassing a lady advocate outside a Palakkad court. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 509]
Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath noted that a prior crime was registered against the complainant at the instance of the petitioner lawyer and went on to grant him bail.
The Court was of the view that custodial interrogation is unnecessary in the case:
"The applicant and the defacto complainant are lawyers. Annexure 2 would show that at the instance of the applicant, a crime was registered against the defacto complainant and others. Considering the allegations made against the applicant, his custodial interrogation seems unnecessary. For these reasons, I find this to be an appropriate case to grant pre-arrest bail to the applicant."
The petitioner is the sole accused in the crime registered by the Palakkad Town South Police Station alleging commission of offence under Section 75(1)(i) [Sexual harassment] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The prosecution case was that on August 5 at 11:40 am, the petitioner, with sexual intent, pressed on the buttocks of the de facto complainant as she was moving out of the court after a hearing.
The petitioner contended that he was innocent and was falsely implicated in the case. The prosecutor opposed grant of bail and contended that the petitioner's release would affect the investigation.
The Court, after hearing the parties, allowed the plea.
Case No: Bail Appl. No. 5008 of 2026
Case Title: X v. State of Kerala
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 509
Counsel for the petitioner: M. Revikrishnan
Counsel for the respondent: Aneeda Beegum – Sr Public prosecutor