Kerala: SC upholds bail of Malayalam actor Vijay Babu

Relief for Vijay Babu

According to the apex court’s directive, the Kerala Police are permitted to interrogate Babu only after the last day of his bail.

The apex court has made it clear that the police can grill him any number of times till the investigation ends.

The 25-year-old actor fled from the country on 24 April, two days after a leading lady from one of his latest films filed a case against him, alleging rape.

However, he returned to Kerala when the high court granted him anticipatory bail and permitted the police to interrogate him without taking him into custody or arresting him.

The Kerala government approached the Supreme Court saying there were improprieties in the accused leaving the country on hearing that a case was registered against him and returning only after securing anticipatory bail.

The state counsel argued that the bail granted by the high court created a bad precedent.

Accuser joins state petition

The accuser has joined the state counsel’s petition in the Supreme Court. She alleged that Babu’s relatives and friends were pressuring her to withdraw the complaint.

She also told the court that Babu had revealed her identity on social media, and that since then she was being subjected to online harassment by his followers.

On the other hand, Babu claimed he was in a consensual relationship with his accuser. He also alleged that she turned against him only after she failed to get roles in his movies.

Babu also furnished his private chats with the woman to substantiate his claim as he sought anticipatory bail.