Kerala govt approaches HC to revoke Civic Chandran's anticipatory bail

Kochi: The Kerala government filed a request with the High Court to revoke the anticipatory bail given to author "Civic" Chandran by a sessions court in Kozhikode in connection with the second complaint of sexual abuse.

The government argued that the controversial statements in the Kozhikode Sessions Court decision from August 12 while granting bail to the 74-year-old author should be removed.

The state Women's Commission strongly condemned the Sessions Court's observation that the offence of sexual harassment is not prima facie attracted when the woman was wearing "sexually provocative apparel."

The government, in its plea, sought to remove the remarks saying it questions the survivor's right to freedom under the Constitution.

The plea also said the observation of the lower court was illogical and without examining the facts of the case.

"The photographs produced along with the bail application by the accused would reveal that the de facto complainant herself is exposing to dresses which are having some sexually provocative one. So, sexual harassment under IPC 354A will not prima facie stand against the accused."

"Even admitting that there was a physical contact, it is impossible to believe that a man aged 74 and physically disabled can forcefully put the de facto complainant in his lap and sexually press her breast," the court had observed and granted bail to the accused saying it was a "fit case wherein the accused can be granted bail".

The court had made the observations while granting bail in the second sexual harassment case registered against him.

Chandran has been accused in two sexual harassment cases, one by a writer belonging to a Scheduled Tribe community, alleging sexual harassment by him during a book exhibition here in April.

The other was by a young writer, who accused him of sexual harassment during a book exhibition in town in February 2020.

The Koyilandy police had registered cases against Chandran but had not been able to arrest him as he has been at large since the first case was registered.

Chandran was granted anticipatory bail in the first case on August 2.

With PTI inputs