The top court of the state has declined to grand anticipatory bail to a senior Malayalam film actor and rightwing politician, Kollam Thulasi, against whom a case has been registered for allegedly making derogatory remarks against women at a function organised by the National Democratic Alliance front in the Indian state of Kerala.
In addition, the High Court has also directed the actor to be present before the investigative officers who have been directed by the concerned to investigate the case registered in connection with the remark.
The remark that women in the menstruating age group who visit famous South Indian hill temple Sabarimala where the entry of women of that age group is restricted traditionally should be ripped apart got a good amount of cheers when it was presented before an rightwing audience who gathered to protest against a SC order that removes all restrictions to the entry of women in the place of worship of their choice on the basis of their gender, but, later, it attracted severe criticism and criminal charges.
The charges the actor faces are the section 504 of the Indian Penal Code (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and the section 295 (A) of the IPC (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings).
Earlier, in the same case, his anticipatory bail petition was rejected by the Principal Sessions Court, Kollam.
The main argument he has made in the anticipatory bail petitions is that he has requested unconditional apology publically from all who may have felt his remarks derogatory.
If proved guilty, the actor may get serious punishment.
Vignesh. S. G
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