'Men Also Have Right & Dignity': Kerala HC Grants Pre-Arrest Bail To Actor Balachandra Menon In Sexual Assault Case Filed With 17 Yrs Delay

The single bench of Justice P V Kunhikrishnan while granting the relief observed that men also have the right to dignity, not just women. While dictating the order in open Court, the Judge observed,

“It is an admitted fact that the alleged incident happened in 2007. It is an admitted fact that the victim filed the complaint after 17 years of the alleged incident. It is also admitted that the petitioner is a known cine artist, he is also known as a film actor, director, and scriptwriter. He directed about 40 films and obtained two national awards. The nation awarded him by giving a Padma Shri. Based on a statement of a lady, that too after 17 years, this case has been registered…It is true that investigation is going on but everybody must remember that the right and dignity is not only to a woman but to men also. This is a fit case to grant bail to petitioner in the interest of justice."

Menon had argued that a false complaint was filed, only to malign his image in the society.

Earlier also, the Court had granted him interim bail on finding that there was no plausible explanation given by the complainant for the inordinate delay in lodging the FIR in 2024, when the alleged crime took place around 17 years back.

The plea has been moved by Senior Advocate M Ramesh Chander, Advocates M/S. Bejoy Joseph P.J., Govind G. Nair, Balu Tom & Bonny Benny

Case Number: Bail Appl. No. 9058 Of 2024

Case Title: Balachandra Menon v State of Kerala

Citation: 2024 Live Law (Ker) 793