KOCHI: The High Court sought the government's stance on the anticipatory bail plea filed by actor Suresh Gopi in the case of insulting a media activist. Justice C. Pradeep Kumar will consider the petition again on January 8.

In the complaint, it was stated that Suresh Gopi gratuitously grabbed a woman journalist’s shoulders while answering the press in Kozhikode on October 27. Even after the journalist slipped away, the actor again grabbed her forcefully.

The Nadakkavu police registered a case of sexual assault under two sub-sections of Section 354A. On November 18, Suresh Gopi was permitted to leave after attending a questioning session. In the anticipatory bail application, it is said that the offence of insulting womanhood (Section 354) has also been charged, which is non-bailable and can be punishable with imprisonment of up to five years. In the bail plea, Suresh Gopi shows apprehension about his arrest in the coming days.

Suresh Gopi’s daughter's marriage is scheduled to be held on January 17 in Guruvayur and the reception in Thiruvananthapuram. The petition also demands that anticipatory bail should be given considering this situation.

The plea also accuses the government of charging the case in revenge for the actor's earlier conducted protest march from Karuvannur to Thrissur showing solidarity with people who lost their money in the Karuvannur bank fraud case.