Granting anticipatory bail to veteran actor and filmmaker Balachandra Menon in the alleged sexual harassment case, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday observed that “rights and dignity belong not only to women, but also to men”.
After being released, Judge Dr Report of the HEMA Committee – On issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry – In August, a female artist had accused several film professionals, including Menon (70), of sexual harassment.
Justice PV Kunhikrishnan observed that the incident allegedly took place in 2007. “The plaintiff (Agodar bail seeker Menon) is a famous film artist. He is also known as a film actor, director and screenwriter. Based on the statement of a woman, this case was also registered after 17 years. It is true that research is being done, but everyone should remember that rights and dignity belong not only to women but also to men. “It is an appropriate case to grant bail to the petitioner in the interest of justice,” said the judge while granting anticipatory bail to Menon.
Earlier in October, the High Court had granted interim relief to Menon from arrest. At the time, Justice CS Dash had observed that there was “no reasonable explanation for the prima facie undue delay” in filing the complaint.