The Kerala High Court has granted anticipatory bail to renowned Malayalam film director VK Prakash, who has been accused of sexual harassment.
Justice CS Dias, presiding over the case, ruled that custodial interrogation was not necessary. The court further noted that the prosecution’s claim of Prakash possibly fleeing justice was not a sufficient reason to deny bail.
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Ruling Details
Justice Dias also highlighted that VK Prakash has no prior criminal records of a similar nature and has presented valid grounds in his bail plea.
The court ordered anticipatory bail under the condition that Prakash must surrender before the investigating officer upon his arrest, furnish a bail bond of ₹2 lakh, and surrender his passport.
Furthermore, before Prakash is formally granted bail, the investigating officer may interrogate him for three days, from 9 AM to 2 PM, and subject him to a medical examination if necessary.
Allegations and Background
The allegations against Prakash surfaced following the release of the Hema Committee Report on August 19, 2024.
The report shed light on the working conditions of women in the Malayalam film industry, leading to multiple accusations of sexual harassment against key industry figures, including actors, directors, and production controllers.
Prakash was accused by a scriptwriter of sexual harassment during a meeting in 2022, when she was narrating a script to him at a hotel in Kollam. The scriptwriter subsequently filed a complaint with the Director General of Police.
Prakash, however, has strongly denied the allegations, claiming they are part of a blackmail scheme aimed at extorting money.
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He also mentioned in his plea that the same individual had made similar blackmail attempts against another producer.
Legal Representation
VK Prakash’s anticipatory bail plea was filed through a legal team comprising Advocates Babu S Nair, Smitha Babu, PA Rajesh, Pranav, KP Dhaneesh, and Siddharth Karun Pisharody.
Court Bench Details:
- Bench: Justice CS Dias
- Party Names: Malayalam Film Director VK Prakash (Accused), Scriptwriter (Complainant)