Kerala Court Grants Pre-Arrest Bail To Actor-MLA Mukesh And Actor Edavela Babu In Rape Case

The bail application was allowed by Ernakulam Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese. 

The actors have approached the Court by filing separate anticipatory bail applications over allegations of rape made against them after the publication of the Justice Hema Committee Report, which deals with issues (including sexual abuse, gender discrimination, and safety) faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.

Mukesh was apprehending arrest for offences punishable under Sections 354 (Outraging the modesty of woman using criminal force), 376 (rape), 509 (Insulting the modesty of woman using words or gestures) IPC.

The allegation is that in 2009, Mukesh sexually exploited the victim by offering her film roles and AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) membership. The crime was registered against Mukesh by the Maradu Police Station based on the statement given by the victim to the Special Investigation Team, which was constituted after the publication of the Justice Hema Committee Report.

Actor Edavela Babu was also booked for offences alleging Sections 376, 354 and 506 of the IPC. The crime was registered against him at Ernakulam Town Police Station.

Both the actors have approached the Court with separate bail applications. It was submitted before the Court that they are innocent and that case was lodged against them with mala fide motives. It was alleged that the de facto complainant was trying to tarnish their reputation by making such allegations after a long delay. 

The actors submitted before the Court that they were ready to appear before the Investigating officer to cooperate with the investigation.

The bail application of Mukesh moved by Advocates Geo Paul and C R Pramod (Mukesh v State of Kerala, Crl. M.C. No.2575 of 2024)

The bail application of Edavela Babu was moved by Advocate PP Harris.