The Supreme Court has granted interim anticipatory bail to the National President of Indian Youth Congress, BV Srinivas, in the FIR registered in Assam on a sexual harassment complaint lodged by a member.
A Bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sanjay Karol noted that the alleged incident happened during 24-26 February 2023 in Raipur and the complaint was lodged in April 2023 in Assam.
The bench also noted that the complainant, in her tweets and interviews to media before the complaint was lodged, said that there was no ‘whisper’ of allegation of sexual harassment against the petitioner.
The bench observed that prima facie, taking into consideration the delay of almost two months in lodging the FIR, will entitle the petitioner to interim protection.
It directed 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 bench asked Srinivas to appear before the investigating officer on May 22 and on the subsequent dates as and when directed by the officer.
He was further asked to cooperate with the investigation. The matter will be next considered in July.
The Court further directed the petitioner to cooperate with the inquiry being carried out by the National Commission for Women.
After the order was dictated, ASG Raju made a request to not make any observations regarding the merits (such as absence of sexual harassment allegations in the initial statements) and said that interim protection be granted without assigning reasons.
However, the bench refused to remove the observations, but clarified that they were made only for the purposes of granting interim relief.