KOCHI: A temporary relief for Mukesh MLA in a sexual abuse case. The Ernakulam district sessions court stopped his arrest for five days. The act was on Mukesh’s plea seeking a stay on the arrest. A detailed argument will be heard on his anticipatory bail plea on September 3.

Mukesh filed a plea in the court through his lawyer this afternoon. His plea demanded to stay his arrest for hearing the detailed argument in the anticipatory bail plea. Considering this, the court stopped his arrest. Actors including Mukesh were a bit concerned on the police taking drastic measures including arrest.

Mukesh had earlier given an explanation to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan regarding the sexual abuse complaint. Mukesh said the allegation is not true and that the complainant had threatened him. Mukesh told the chief minister that he has the WhatsApp messages sent by the actress. Mukesh gave an explanation to the chief minister yesterday. The explanation was given amid intensifying protests including by the opposition for his resignation.

Meantime, the CPI, the main party in the Left Front, publicly demanded his resignation. K Ajitha and CPI leader Annie Raja also spoke against him. Under the leadership of writer Sarah Joseph, 100 women activists from various fields had signed and issued a statement.