The Supreme Court granted interim anticipatory bail to BV Srinivas, chief of Indian Youth Congress in respect to the FIR registered in Assam on a sexual harassment complaint lodged by an expelled party member.
On Wednesday, a Bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sanjay Karol noted that alleged incident happened during 24-26 February 2023 in Raipur and the complaint was lodged in April 2023 in Assam, Live Law reported.
In the complainant’s tweets and interviews to media before the complaint was lodged, there was no “whisper of allegation” of sexual harassment against the petitioner, the top court noted.
“Prima facie, taking into consideration the delay of almost two months in lodging the FIR, will entitle the petitioner to interim protection. We direct that in the event of arrest the petitioner shall be released on anticipatory bail on furnishing solvent sureties to the sum of Rs 50,000″, the apex court observed.
The court has asked Srinivas to appear before the investigating officer on 22 May and on the subsequent dates as and when directed by the officer, reports Live Law.
The matter will be next considered in July 2023. The Court further directed the petitioner to cooperate with the inquiry being carried out with the National Commission for Women.
