Kerala High Court Directs Not To Arrest Man Accused Of Misbehaving With Malayalam Actress Over Window Seat In Flight

The Kerala High Court on Saturday issued an interim order barring the arrest of the man who was alleged to have harassed a renowned Malayalam actress onboard an Air India flight in a dispute over occupation of the window seat. 

Justice Gopinath P. issued the interim direction today. 

The petitioner, Anto C.R., was alleged to have misbehaved with the actress (the de facto complainant herein) while in transit from Mumbai to Cochin in an Air India flight.

Anto however, claimed that he was tired after attending a Techno Expo and had found comfort in the vacant window seat in 12th row of the aircraft, while his actual seat was the aisle seat of the same row. Subsequently, he heard the de facto complainant argue with the air hostess, stating that the window seat belonged to her for the duration of the journey.

The petitioner however submitted that he had politely informed the air hostess that he was ready to occupy his original seat, which was occupied by his friend. However, in the meanwhile, Anto claimed that the air hostess had offered another comfortable middle seat to the actress, thereby settling the dispute. The petitioner averred that he had been surprised to find screenshots of the defacto complainant from social media the next day, alleging misbehaviour against the person who sat on his original seat.

Anto's anticipatory bail plea before the Sessions Court was rejected by the Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese stating that, "...if bail is granted, in the light of alarming number of offences and atrocities against the women and children, that will give wrong message to the society".

It is challenging the same that Anto moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the matter. 

Senior Advocate P. Vijaya Bhanu, and Advocates Sruthy K.K., P.M. Rafiq, M. Revikrishnan, Ajeesh K. Sasi, Sruthy N. Bhat, Rahul Sunil, and Nikita J. Mendez appeared on behalf of the petitioner.

Case Title: Anto C.R. v. State of Kerala & Anr. 

Case Number: Bail Appl. No. 9600/ 2023

Click Here To Read/Download The Order