A local court in Kollam, Kerala on Thursday granted protection from arrest to rape accused actor-politician Mukesh. The court directed the police not to arrest him till September 3. Mukesh, a CPI(M) MLA from Kollam, had approached the court earlier in the day seeking anticipatory bail.
According to PTI, Kerala Police had registered a rape case against him on August 28. At that time, a film actress had complained to the police accusing him of sexual harassment. But now, while granting interim relief to Mukesh, the Chief Sessions Court said that there is little possibility of the actor running away from the law.
In its order, the court said, ‘Keeping in view the situation that there is no possibility of escape from the clutches of law, the IO (Investigating Officer) is directed not to arrest the petitioner till September 3.
This case dates back to 2010. Due to which an FIR was registered against Mukesh under section 376 (rape) of IPC at Maradu police station in Kochi city on Wednesday night. In his anticipatory bail plea, the actor claimed that the statement given by the victim against him was with malicious intent.
Mukesh claimed that the case was filed with malicious intent and to ruin his political and film career. The anticipatory bail was granted at a time when the opposition was demanding Mukesh’s resignation as MLA.
Prominent names in Malayalam cinema, including Mukesh, Jayasurya and Siddique, have been booked by the police for rape and sexual harassment of a female colleague who made the allegations after the findings of the Justice K Hema Committee were made public, which had exposed cases of abuse and exploitation of women professionals in the Malayalam film industry.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)