Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Boby Chemmanur In Sexual Harassment Case

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday granted bail to prominent businessman Boby Chemmanur, who has been arrested and is in judicial custody in a sexual harassment case filed against him by Malayalam actor Honey Rose.

Justice P V Kunhikrishnan granted the relief to Chemmanur after noting that the offences the businessman was accused of carry sentences ranging from one year to three years and the Supreme Court has observed that where the punishment is seven years or less, an accused cannot be arrested by the police without sufficient reasons.

"In the light of the above principle, I think the petitioner can be released on bail after imposing stringent conditions... Moreover, it is a well accepted principle that the bail is the rule and the jail is the exception," the judge said. While granting him the relief, the court also noted that prima facie it was of the opinion that "there are ingredients to attract the offences alleged against the petitioner (Chemmanur).