Kochi: The Kerala High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Malayalam film actor Baburaj in connection with sexual harassment allegations that came to light after the Hema Commission report due to inordinate delay in registration of FIR.

However, the court ordered Baburaj to surrender before the investigating officer within 10 days.

According to Live Law, a crime was registered against him at the Adimali police station on charges of rape and sexual harassment in 2018-2019.

While allowing the bail plea, Justice CS Dias referred to the judgment in actor Siddique’s case in which the Supreme Court granted him bail on similar grounds of delay in filing the FIR.

The court pointed out that the FIR was lodged only on September 2, 2024, with a delay of almost five years. The court also found that there was “prima facie material to show that the petitioner and the survivor had a consensual relationship.”

“After generally considering the relevant facts and competing submissions and materials submitted and particularly after understanding the inordinate delay in registration of FIR and having regard to the principles laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Siddique v. State of Kerala I Another and further there is prima facie material to show that the petitioner the petitioner and the survivor had a consensual relationship and at this distance, a custodial hearing of the petitioner is not necessary… I am therefore inclined to allow his application, subject to certain conditions,” the court said.

The complainant made the allegation after the publication of the Justice K. Hema Commission report.
The complainant alleged that the actor molested her in 2018 when she was working as a receptionist at his resort in Munnar. The complainant further alleges that the actor raped her at his home in 2019, where he called her to talk about opportunities in the film industry.