Sexual abuse case: Kerala HC adjourns Palakkad councillor’s pre-arrest bail plea

Kochi: High court on Tuesday adjourned the anticipatory bail petition of Prasobh M, a Congress councillor of the Palakkad municipality, in a sexual assault case to May 19 to obtain the complainant's response.A bench of Justice M A Abdul Hakhim was considering an interlocutory application filed by Prasobh seeking early consideration of his petition during the vacation. According to prosecution, Prasobh was in a relationship with the survivor and, despite being married, allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with her on multiple occasions by promising to secure employment for her. It was further alleged that when she became pregnant and the relationship became public, he intimidated and abused her.Palakkad police registered a case against the petitioner based on a complaint filed by the woman under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Although he had approached the Special Court for SC/ST cases in Mannarkkad seeking anticipatory bail, the petition was dismissed on April 17, prompting him to move HC.In his petition, Prasobh claimed that the relationship was consensual and had continued for more than one-and-a-half years. He contended that the complaint was lodged only after the relationship became public, rather than because of any failure on his part to secure employment for the survivor, thereby casting doubt on the prosecution's case.