Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Actor Sreejith Ravi In POCSO Case With Conditions

The Kerala High Court on Friday granted bail to Malayalam actor Sreejith Ravi in a POCSO case registered against him for allegedly exhibiting nudity in front of children.After perusing the records and medical certificates, and having regard to the fact that he has been in custody since last week, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas allowed the bail application noting that his continued detention was not warranted. However, the Judge observed that the nature of the act committed by the petitioner called for conditions to be imposed on him to prevent recurrence of the same.The Court also orally commented on how media coverage should not affect the justice delivery system when the DGP submitted that the case garnered wide media attention. "What the media says does not affect us. It does not affect this court at least. The last time when I took up this case, I didn't even know that it was this case. I got to know after I saw it on the news the next day. The media can say whatever it wants to, that should not affect our system."The prosecution case is that on July 4, the applicant flashed his private parts and proceeded to exhibit and caress the same in front of two girls at a park. The Thrissur West Police registered a case and arrested the actor after the girls, aged 9 and 14 respectively, filed a complaint on the same. The applicant had initially approached the Additional Sessions Judge of Thrissur seeking bail but this was dismissed. Aggrieved by this, he has approached the High Court.Senior Advocate P Vijayabhanu assisted by Advocate Sruthy N. Bhat appearing pettioner submitted that he has been detained since 7.7.2022 and that the offences alleged against him do not entail longer detention. It was argued that the actor was diagnosed with a behavioural disorder and has been undergoing treatment for the same since September 2016. The plea states that he has also undergone psychotherapy in furtherance of the same.Additional Director General of Prosecution Grashious Kuriakose submitted that the State had no objection to granting bail to the petitioner provided that appropriate measures were imposed on him to prevent the recurrence of such instances. The DGP also suggested that a family member take responsibility for his actions or that he be accompanied by someone While allowing the bail application, the Court imposed a condition that his wife and father undertake to file an affidavit before the jurisdictional court affirming their willingness to provide adequate medical attention and treatment to the petitioner to prevent the recurrence of further similar acts. The Court responded that it will ponder over the same while correcting the order, adding that such a condition could be onerous. The plea contended that the applicant is absolutely innocent of all the allegations levelled against him and that he has been falsely implicated in the case with an ulterior motive and vexatious intention.It has been submitted that the continued incarceration of the applicant will have a dire effect on his mental health. The actor has also submitted that he is willing to abide by any condition and that he will cooperate with the investigation.The bail application added that the statements of the victims have already been collected and that the investigation in the crime is almost complete as of now, which means his continued incarceration is not necessary. As such, he has sought regular bail in the matter.Reportedly, the actor had recently been booked in a similar case in Palakkad.Case Title: Sreejith T.R v. State of KeralaCitation: 2022 LiveLaw (Ker) 351

Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Actor Sreejith Ravi In POCSO Case With Conditions

Hannah M Varghese

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