KOCHI: High Court granted anticipatory bail to the accused in a gang rape case, judging that consensual sex was evident from the WhatsApp chats. Justice Dr Kauser Edappagath passed the judgment on the plea filed by Kottayam native Umesh seeking anticipatory bail in the case of recording the footage of the victim after gang rape and spreading it through electronic media.

It was alleged that the victim was taken to the hotel where the petitioner and the first accused in the case were staying and was raped after serving alcohol. However, the High Court observed that mutual consent can be understood from the WhatsApp chats. High Court ruled that the petitioner should not be interrogated in custody and granted anticipatory bail after highlighting the points that the victim came to the hotel knowing that the accused were present there, there is evidence that the victim was paid, and the complaint was filed twelve days after the incident. The order said that if the petitioner is arrested, he shall be released on a bond of Rs.1 lakh and two sureties of equal amount.