The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed an anticipatory bail petition filed by Malayalam film actor Kollam Thulasi in a case registered against him for his alleged remarks against women at a protest meeting over the Sabarimala temple issue.
The court directed him to surrender before the investigation officer.
The actor in his petition pointed out that his anticipatory bail plea was earlier dismissed by the Principal Sessions Court, Kollam. According to him, the Sessions Court had failed to take into account the unconditional apology tendered by him for his remarks.
He had made the speech on October 12, 2018, at a meeting organised by the NDA near the Chavara bus stand to protest against the entry of young women into Sabarimala temple.
He said that, in fact, he did not have any political inclination and he made the remarks on the spur of the moment. He had tendered an unconditional apology within hours of the speech. Nor had he made any attempt to incite any person to commit any offence. Besides, the facts of the case did not warrant invoking the offences alleged against him.
He had been charged with offences under Sections 505 (statement conducing to public mischief), 506 (criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).