The Kerala High Court, under Justice Sophy Thomas, has granted bail to P G Manu, a former senior government pleader accused of multiple rapes, emphasizing the importance of addressing allegations against authority figures while safeguarding the survivor’s well-being.
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Thiruvananthapuram: On Friday(22nd March),The Kerala High Court has granted regular bail to P G Manu, a former senior government pleader, who stands accused of multiple instances of rape against a woman. This decision, handed down by Justice Sophy Thomas, emphasized the complexities of the case and the imperative to safeguard the rights and well-being of the survivor.
Justice Sophy Thomas, while acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations, emphasized the need to address the accusations leveled against a person in a position of authority.
She noted:
“A serious note has to be taken of the fact that he was a senior government lawyer in the High Court and that he allegedly sexually exploited a hapless lady who approached him to settle a case, in which she was the victim.”
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The High Court pointed out-
“The allegation is that the petitioner, who was in a position to dominate the will of the victim, sexually exploited her, and committed rape on her twice, and sent obscene videos to her continuously.”
Despite the severity of the charges, the court considered the completion of the investigation and the filing of the final report. Consequently, it deemed it appropriate to grant bail to the accused, albeit with stringent conditions aimed at ensuring the safety and security of the survivor.
As part of the bail conditions, the accused is required to furnish a bond of Rs 2 lakh along with two solvent sureties. Additionally, he must adhere to several legal stipulations, including reporting before the investigating officer on specified dates and refraining from any contact with the victim or her family.
The matter surrounding P G Manu saw significant developments leading up to the granting of bail. Following the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea by the Supreme Court, he surrendered before the police.
On November 29 last year, a FIR was filed against the lawyer under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 (assault), 354 (outraging modesty of a woman), and 506 (intimidation), along with provisions of the Information Technology Act. This legal action was initiated in response to a complaint lodged by the victim.
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According to the complaint, the accused lawyer abused his authority by luring the victim to his office under false pretenses and subjecting her to assault. The timeline provided by the victim indicates multiple instances of abuse, accompanied by persistent harassment through various means of communication.
