Kerala HC slams Boby Chemmanur for staying in prison after getting bail; calls it drama
Kochi (PTI): The Kerala High Court on Wednesday ticked off prominent businessman Boby Chemmanur for refusing to come out of jail after getting bail a day ago in a sexual harassment filed by Malayalam actor Honey Rose.
Judges said, "don't play drama with the court".
Irked by the businessman's conduct, Justice P V Kunhikrishnan warned Chemmanur not to "play games with the High Court" and said if bail was granted, it can be cancelled also.
The High Court also sought an explanation by 12 pm from Chemmanur as to why he did not come out after getting bail. The High Court said that the bail order was uploaded on its website by 4.08 pm on Tuesday and the release order was issued by 4.45 pm.
"Why was he retained in jail after that?" it asked.
The prosecution told the High Court that the release order was not produced by Chemmanur's lawyers in the prison and that is why he was not let out.
The prosecution also told the court that the businessman claimed he was not coming out as there were several remand prisoners in jail who could not come out despite getting bail as they did not have the money to execute the bond.
Irked by the development, the High Court said, "You (Chemmanur) need not take the vakalat of the remand prisoners. The High Court and the judiciary are there to take care of them. Don't play drama with the court.
"He wants media attention and is creating stories by keeping the release order in his pocket. Why should his bail not be cancelled?"
Justice Kunhikrishnan said that if he granted bail to the businessman, he can cancel it also.
"Do you (Chemmanur) think you are above the law? I can ask the police to arrest him and order that the probe be completed in two weeks," the judge said.
The court directed that an explanation be provided at 12 pm for Chemmanur's conduct.
Chemmanur, after coming out from jail in the morning, told reporters that many inmates told him that they could not get out of prison despite getting bail as they did not have the money to execute the bond.
"When they came to me, I told them we can resolve the issue. I stayed back in jail one day only for that," he claimed. Granting relief to Chemmanur on Tuesday, Justice Kunhikrishnan, however, said,"body shaming is not acceptable in our society".
While granting him the relief, the court had also noted that prima facie it was of the opinion that "there are ingredients to attract the offences alleged against the petitioner (Chemmanur).
Chemmanur has been charged under Section 75(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for making "sexually coloured remarks" as a form of sexual harassment, as well as under Section 67 of the IT Act for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.
The High Court had also noted that he used words "with double meanings". The businessman was arrested on January 8 and remanded to judicial custody on January 9.
According to the actor's complaint, upon invitation, she inaugurated the Chemmanur International Jewellery showroom at Alakode, Kannur, on August 7, 2024, where thousands had gathered to witness the event.
During the inauguration ceremony, Chemmanur placed a necklace around the actress's neck and then made unwelcome sexual advances with bad intentions, twirling or rotating her, the complaint has stated.
However, Chemmanur has stated that he is completely innocent of all the accusations levelled against him and denied the allegations, calling them false, baseless, and incorrect.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Mallikarjun Kharge expresses disagreement with L&T Chairman's 90-hour work week suggestion
New Delhi (PTI): Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday expressed disagreement with Larsen & Toubro Chairman S N Subrahmanyan's suggestion of a 90-hour work week and recalled that former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and BR Ambedkar had advocated that workers should not be made to work for more than eight hours in a day.
Addressing party leaders after the inauguration of the Congress' new headquarters located at 9A, Kotla Road here, Kharge lauded the work done by L&T Construction in constructing the new party headquarters.
"I would like to thank L&T construction...some dues are also left from our side," Kharge said to peals of laughter.
"I would like to thank L&T construction, architects, labourers involved in the construction. While I thank the company, but the company's CEO has made a remark of working 90 hours in a week. I don't agree with that," the Congress chief said.
A labourer works for eight hours and gets tired and that is why Nehru and Ambedkar had stated while making factory act that workers should not be made to do more than eight hours of work.
"After that someone said nine hours, but he (L&T chief) is now talking of 12 hours, 14 hours, he should leave that (view), but I thank the company because they have done a very good job. I would also like to thank the labourers for their hard work," Kharge said.
The Congress president also thanked Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for overseeing the work of construction and completion at the party's new headquarters.
Subrahmanyan had sparked an online outrage with his comments advocating a 90-hour work week and suggesting that employees should even give up Sundays.
"How long can you stare at your wife," he is heard saying in a purported video address to employees where he urged them to spend less time at home and more in the office.
His remarks reignited the work-life balance debate, first triggered by Infosys Co-Founder Narayana Murthy's suggestion of a 70-hour work week.
"I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy because I work on Sundays," Subrahmanyan is heard saying in an undated video circulating on social media.
"What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Come on, get to the office and start working," he further said.
