Vijay Babu Rape Case: Women in Cinema Collective reacts to producer's pre-arrest bail

Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a registered organisation for women working in Malayalam cinema, has condemned the Kerala High Court for granting bail to Malayalam actor-producer Vijay Babu who was accused in a rape case.

A female actor filed a complaint alleging that Vijay Babu had physically abused and sexually exploited her between March 13 and April 14. Meanwhile, he had absconded to Dubai and later returned when his passport was impounded.

On May 30, the Kerala High Court granted the accused interim pre-arrest bail. Following that, WCC which has been actively voicing out against violence and injustice posed to women has reacted to High Court’s order.

In the statement, WCC stated that every citizen has the right to complain to the police under the legal framework and in the case of sexual assault it also provides the complainant with the right to privacy under Section 228A.

WCC noted that the rape accused, however, travelled abroad and absconded from the law from April 24th to 1st June by evading arrest. He publicly announced the complainant's name on social media and shamed and intimidated her.  The accused also deleted the video and allegedly tried to influence the complainant to withdraw the complaint.

WCC also highlighted that in the past, there have been police cases filed against this accused by women closely associated with him and still the accused was granted bail now.

“The aggressive pattern used by perpetrators to silence the voices of survivors needs to be recognized here. The National Crime Records Bureau reports that less than 28% of rape cases under Sec 376 of the Indian Penal Code lead to conviction. This pattern is the reason - the hurdles that stand in the way of a survivor proving her truth are just as monstrous as the crime itself. WCC reiterates our full support to the survivor and ensures her that we see her, we believe her, we stand by her,” WCC stated.