Relief after arrest: Controversy surrounding actor-politician K Mukesh

A local court on Thursday granted exemption from arrest to rape-accused actor-politician K Mukesh, directing police to arrest him only on September 3.

Mukesh, a CPI(M) legislator from Kollam, had earlier in the day filed a petition in the court seeking interim bail after the Kerala Police on August 28 filed a rape case against him after a woman actor accused her of sexually assaulting her years ago.

The court of first instance granted Mukesh interim relief, finding that the perpetrator is unlikely to flee the law.

”In view of the situation where there may be no chance of escaping the clutches of law, the IO (Investigation Officer) is directed that the applicant shall not be arrested before 3/9/24,” the court said in its order.

The alleged incident took place in the year 2010.

On Wednesday evening, an FIR (Fire Report) was registered against Mukesh under Section 376 of the Penal Code (IPC) at Maradu police station in Kochi city.

In his application for interim bail, the actor alleged that the statement made against him by the victim had malicious intent.

He alleged that the case was filed with a hidden agenda and was intended to damage his political and film career.

The interim bail was granted at a time when the opposition was demanding that Mukesh resign from the legislature.

Well-known names from Malayalam cinema including Mukesh, Jayasurya and Siddique have been arrested by the police for raping and sexually assaulting a female colleague. She made the accusation after the findings of the Justice K Hema commission were made public.

The commission brought to light cases of abuse and exploitation of women professionals in the Malayalam industry.

(With input from agencies.)