Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Tech CEO in Rape Case
The Supreme Court of India has granted anticipatory bail to Venu Gopalakrishnan, the CEO of a Kochi-based IT firm, in a rape and sexual harassment case filed by a former employee. A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan ordered his release on a cash security of Rs 1 lakh and two sureties, overturning the Kerala High Court's earlier refusal. The defense argued that the complainant and her husband had demanded a Rs 30 crore settlement, which was documented in submitted evidence, suggesting the legal proceedings were initiated only after negotiations failed. The complainant denied these extortion allegations, claiming she faced persistent workplace harassment and that her arrest was part of a conspiracy involving tampered evidence. The state government opposed the bail, citing the seriousness of the charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the accused's potential to intimidate witnesses due to his influence. The FIR includes charges of rape, sexual harassment, and criminal intimidation. This ruling provides significant relief to the accused, who had previously been protected from coercive steps by an interim court order.
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Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Tech CEO in Rape Case
The Supreme Court of India has granted anticipatory bail to Venu Gopalakrishnan, the CEO of a Kochi-based IT firm, in a rape and sexual harassment case filed by a former employee. A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan ordered his release on a cash security of Rs 1 lakh and two sureties, overturning the Kerala High Court's earlier refusal. The defense argued that the complainant and her husband had demanded a Rs 30 crore settlement, which was documented in submitted evidence, suggesting the legal proceedings were initiated only after negotiations failed. The complainant denied these extortion allegations, claiming she faced persistent workplace harassment and that her arrest was part of a conspiracy involving tampered evidence. The state government opposed the bail, citing the seriousness of the charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the accused's potential to intimidate witnesses due to his influence. The FIR includes charges of rape, sexual harassment, and criminal intimidation. This ruling provides significant relief to the accused, who had previously been protected from coercive steps by an interim court order.
The Indian Express