Kochi: Kerala High Court has stayed the trial proceedings against the popular Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan in the sexual harassment case. The Court gave the directive after hearing the counsel of the actor who said that the case has been settled between the parties.
The woman who filed alleged that the actor forcefully kissed and attempted to rape her when she visited him at his residence in Kochi to discuss a movie project.
According to this, the actor was booked for the offences under Sections 354 (Assault of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 354-B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
However, the actor claimed that she had cooked up the allegation and trapped him in a false case to tarnish his reputation and extort money from him.
The actor in his plea stated that the disputes between the actor and the complainant are personal in nature and have been settled between them. A separate plea has also been filed by the woman complainant, for quashing of proceedings as the case is amicably settled.
Initially, the Court directed the trial in the case to go forward and the current stay was invoked after the actor informed about the settlement.