KOCHI: The high court has temporarily stayed the arrest of actor and producer Vijay Babu in the case of sexually abusing an actress. He must appear before the investigation officer soon after reaching the state. The investigation officer can question the actor. The court directed that the actor should not be arrested until the next hearing of the case.

The court also criticized the police. Why was Vijay Babu not arrested for a month? It is doubtful whether the accused and the police are colluding with each other. Are the police attempting to show the arrest through the media? Were the police able to nab everyone who went abroad? Vijay Babu should return to the state. That is important, said the court.

Vijay Babu might be a star for some people. But, for the court, he is a common man. Isn’t Vijay Babu trying to abide by the law? As he is abroad, the case will not be heard on merit, said the court. The actor’s advocate informed the court that Vijay Babu will return on Wednesday. The case will be heard again on Thursday.

According to Vijay Babu’s claims, he had consensual sex with the actress and the reason for the harassment complaint was that he gave another actress a chance in the film. The actress lodged a sexual abuse complaint with the police on April 22 alleging that Vijay Babu had sexually abused her multiple times promising roles in movies. Following which, the actor fled the country.