KOCHI: The Kerala High Court said that even if women dress provocatively, it is not a license for men to rape. Justice Dr Kauser Edappagath clarified this while expunging the controversial remark in the order of Kozhikode Additional Sessions Court granting anticipatory bail to writer Civic Chandran in the sexual assault case.

The Kozhikode Additional Sessions Court had stated that an offence under Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code is not prima facie attracted when the woman was wearing 'sexually provocative dresses'. The details of the judgment on the pleas filed by the government and the complainant seeking to remove this reference and cancel the anticipatory bail came out yesterday.

The complainant had alleged that on 8th February 2020, Civic Chandran groped her while she was resting on the beach after a cultural camp. The Koyilandy police had registered a case on the complaint filed on July 29, 2022.

Meanwhile, the High Court clarified that the explanation given by the victim regarding the delay she made in filing the complaint is not satisfactory.