Anticipatory bail filed by actor producer Vijay Babu, victim opposes move in HC

Kochi: Actor producer Vijay Babu who has been accused of sexual assault, and has subsequently fled to Dubia and from there to Georgia has petitioned for anticipatory bail on Thursday. The victim of the assault has asked the Kerala High Court not to grant the bail stating that the terms of bail cannot be decided by the accused.

The court heard both the sides and said that the actor's bail plea will not be considered unless he returns to Kerala by May 30. The case has then been posted for Friday.

The Kerala Police has been trying their best to bring back Vijay Babu, who slipped out of the country last month to Dubai and from there - after the police began steps to issue a red corner notice - headed for Georgia and is now there.

His counsel has already informed the court that he will be landing in Kerala on Monday.

IANS reported that the actor-producer was on the run after the actress from Kozhikode filed a complaint in Ernakulam on April 22 that she was raped and beaten up by him several times in a flat in Kochi.

She has also accused him of giving her intoxicants before sexually abusing her.

Soon after the news surfaced, Vijay Babu appeared live on his social media handle claiming that he was the "real victim" in this case, adding that he would take appropriate legal steps against the complainant whom he also named.

The police, apart from the initial complaint, have registered a second case against him for disclosing the name of the complainant.

With his anticipatory bail plea likely to be disposed of on Friday, if the court fails to give him bail, then it remains to be seen if he will land in Cochin on Monday or not.