Woman Advocate Assault Case: Kerala Court Grants Bail To Accused

sexual assault case

The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Trivandrum granted bail to Advocate Beyline Das, who stands accused of physically assaulting a junior woman lawyer at his office.

Incident Overview

The alleged assault occurred on May 13, 2025, when the junior advocate filed a complaint against a colleague. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Das reportedly slapped her, causing her to fall. When she attempted to stand, he allegedly grabbed her hands and slapped her again, resulting in swelling around her eye, bruises on her cheek, and psychological distress.

Legal Proceedings

Following the complaint, Das was arrested and initially remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. He faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including:

Section 126(2): Wrongful restraint
Section 74: Assault with intent to outrage a woman’s modesty
Section 115(2): Voluntarily causing hurt

Defense and Prosecution Arguments

Das’s defense, led by Advocate Dilip Satyan, argued that the incident was provoked by the junior lawyer’s interference in office matters and that any physical contact was in self-defense. They contended that Section 74 was misapplied, as there was no sexual intent involved, and that the charges were exaggerated.

Conversely, the prosecution, represented by Public Prosecutor Geena T, maintained that Das, being well-versed in legal procedures, could potentially influence witnesses, most of whom are his colleagues, including the complainant. They also highlighted that this was not an isolated incident, citing previous allegations of misconduct against Das.

Institutional Responses

In response to the allegations, the Trivandrum Bar Association suspended Das’s membership, deeming the complaint “prima facie true and credible.” Additionally, the Kerala Bar Council initiated suo motu disciplinary proceedings, barring him from practicing in any court or tribunal pending the outcome.

Current Status

While Das has been granted bail, the investigation remains active. The legal community continues to monitor the case closely, emphasizing the importance of maintaining professional conduct and ensuring justice within the legal fraternity.