Civic Chandran case: Govt's plea to quash controversial verdict

KOCHI: The state government has filed a petition in the High Court seeking cancellation of the judgment of the Kozhikode District Sessions Court granting anticipatory bail to accused Civic Chandran in the sexual assault case and the controversial observation that the complainant was wearing provocative clothes.

The complainant had alleged that Civic Chandran groped her while she was resting on the beach after a cultural camp held on February 8, 2020. She also said that Civic Chandran asked her to lie on his lap. Although the Koyilandy police registered a case against Chandran on the woman's complaint, the court granted him anticipatory bail on August 12. After examining the photos submitted by the petitioner, the court observed that the victim had dressed provocatively.

In its petition, the government pointed out that Supreme Court had clarified in the Aparna Bhatt case that while granting bail in rape cases, the dress, character and morals of the victim should not come into the verdict. The petition said that the Kozhikode court violated this and made controversial remarks.

On April 17, the lower court had also granted anticipatory bail to Civic Chandran in a case registered on a complaint that he had groped and kissed a Scheduled Caste woman writer. The government has also filed a petition in the High Court against this.