Kerala HC Refuses To Grant Relief To Lawyer Accused Of Raping Minor

The Kerala High Court has denied anticipatory bail to Noushad, a lawyer accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl.

The court stated that the allegations are serious and, if proven true, are a disgrace to the legal profession.

According to the prosecution, the accused, Noushad, allegedly gave alcohol to a minor girl and then assaulted her. The victim’s statement described the distressing events, which the judge said were difficult to read without emotion.

“If the facts are correct, it is a shame to the profession. Such a person is not entitled to any discretionary relief from this Court,” the judge stated while rejecting the bail plea.

The victim, who was in the 9th grade at the time, stated that in 2022, Noushad, a family acquaintance, invited her and her aunt to a hotel room in Kozhenchery. She alleged that he forced her to drink alcohol against her will, after which she felt disoriented.

Once her aunt left the room, Noushad allegedly locked the door and assaulted her. The victim further claimed that the abuse continued over time with her aunt’s knowledge.

False Allegations

The accused, represented by Senior Counsel P. Vijayabhanu, argued that the case was fabricated and aimed at damaging his reputation. The defense also pointed out that the victim and her family had made similar complaints in the past for financial gain. It was noted that another accused in a separate case filed by the same victim had been acquitted.

Prosecution Opposes Bail

However, the public prosecutor countered these claims, stating that strong evidence exists against Noushad. He also argued that granting bail could put the victim’s safety at risk.

After reviewing the case diary and reports submitted by advocate Parvathi A. Menon, Project Coordinator of the Victim Rights Centre (VRC), KeLSA, the court found enough evidence to support the accusations and ruled that anticipatory bail could not be granted, as the victim is a minor.

The court noted that the victim is now focused on her studies and dreams of becoming a Forensic Surgeon.

“The entire society supports her, hoping she achieves her dream,” the judge remarked while denying bail to the accused.

Legal Representation

The accused was represented by senior counsel P. Vijayabhanu, along with advocates S. Rajeev, V.V. Vinay, M.S. Aneer, Sarath K.P., Anilkumar C.R., and K.S. Kiran Krishnan.

Senior public prosecutor K.A. Noushad represented the State and the victim, while advocate Parvathi A. Menon represented the Victim Rights Centre (VRC).