The former senior Government Pleader from Kerala is accused of having raped a woman who approached him for legal advice. The Supreme Court on Monday(29th Jan,2024) upheld the order of the Kerala High Court and dismissed the anticipatory bail plea.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India recently rejected the anticipatory bail application of former Senior Government Pleader at the Kerala High Court, Adv P G Manu, who is accused of rape. The apex court’s decision comes after the Kerala High Court had dismissed Manu’s bail application in December of the previous year.
The case against Manu is grave and disturbing. He is accused of raping a woman who had approached him for legal advice. The survivor alleged that Manu had sexually assaulted her multiple times, including in his office in October 2023. Additionally, he is accused of distributing private pictures of the survivor. Following the registration of the criminal complaint, Manu resigned from his position as Government Pleader.
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The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra, dismissed the Special Leave Petition challenging the judgment of the High Court. The allegation against Manu is particularly serious as the victim had approached him as a client concerning another sexual assault case in which she was the victim.
Senior Advocate V Giri, representing Manu, attempted to argue that the relationship between Manu and the woman was consensual. However, the bench disagreed, with Justice Roy stating,
“You were in a position of dominance…we have to consider that.”
The bench observed no infirmity in the High Court’s order and dismissed the petition, while sustaining the High Court’s observation that in the event of the petitioner’s arrest, the Judicial Magistrate shall consider his bail application without delay.
The details of the case are harrowing. On October 9, 2023, the 25-year-old woman approached Manu seeking legal advice in a 2018 sexual harassment case. The lawyer was first contacted by an ex-policeman who was the investigating officer in the case. According to the complainant, Manu first tried to sexually assault her on October 9 when she visited his office with her parents. He allegedly asked her parents to wait outside and closed the door under the pretext of discussing the case, then threatened to turn the 2018 case against her. The advocate summoned her again on October 11 and repeated the offense while her father waited outside.
The woman reported that Manu continued to make obscene remarks through WhatsApp calls and chats. He also visited her at her home on November 24, ensuring her family was not present, and raped her. The survivor’s mother, noticing signs of discomfort on her daughter’s face in the presence of the accused, confronted her, leading to the revelation of her ordeal.
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The woman’s statement was recorded after the complaint given to the Ernakulam Rural SP was handed over to the Chottanikkara police. The complaint included allegations of torture and that Manu took pictures of her naked body. In addition to sexual harassment under section 376 of the IPC, the police have registered a case under the IT Act.
The Supreme Court’s decision to reject the anticipatory bail plea of Adv P G Manu is a crucial step in ensuring justice for the survivor. It underscores the judiciary’s commitment to addressing allegations of sexual assault, particularly in cases involving individuals in positions of power and trust. The case continues to be a significant point of discussion and concern, highlighting the need for stringent measures to protect victims of sexual assault and ensure accountability for those in positions of authority.
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