Legal proceedings to continue against Mukesh, Edavela Babu despite pre-arrest bail

Thiruvananthapuram: Although Mukesh and Edavela Babu have been granted pre-arrest bail in rape cases, legal proceedings against them will go forward. The investigation team will continue with the necessary steps, including documenting their arrests, conducting medical examinations, and performing sexual fitness tests.

On Thursday, the court granted bail to Mukesh and Edavela Babu. The investigation team will still record their arrests and follow through with standard legal procedures. Both are required to cooperate with further procedures, including interrogation. The case will continue according to the usual legal processes for handling rape allegations.

An FIR under IPC 376 (rape) was registered against Mukesh at Maradu police station in Kochi city on the complaint by a woman who has appeared in a handful of movies. She had alleged that Mukesh sexually assaulted her years ago.

The case against Edavela Babu, according to a junior artist’s revelations, involves allegations of inappropriate behavior and misconduct. She accused Edavela Babu, the former General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), of suggesting that she could gain membership in AMMA through "adjustments" rather than paying the required fees. She also claimed that he implied compromising morally could secure her a place in the association. Furthermore, she stated that she stopped receiving movie offers after refusing to comply with these demands.

Multiple FIRs have been registered against many high profile Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment against various directors and actors in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report.