Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday closed a petition filed by the woman who accused rapper Hiran Das Murali, known as Vedan, of sexual harassment. The plea challenged a police notice directing her to appear for recording her statement.
Background
The woman, a research scholar, had earlier approached the Chief Minister alleging that Vedan assaulted her in December 2020 when she visited his Kochi apartment for academic discussions. The memorandum she submitted was later forwarded to the police, leading to the registration of a case by the Ernakulam Central Police.
Fearing that her identity might be revealed if she appeared before officers, she approached the High Court seeking relief.
Court's Observations
When the matter came up before Justice C. Pratheep Kumar, the public prosecutor informed the court that the notice issued on September 30 had been withdrawn.
The bench observed
"The concern of the victim about privacy is legitimate and must be respected in every stage of the investigation."
The court also took note of Section 72(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which explicitly prohibits disclosure of a sexual assault victim’s identity to safeguard dignity and mental well-being.
Decision
Recording the submissions, the High Court closed the petition, bringing relief to the complainant. No further direction was issued, as the police officially withdrew the notice.
Case Title: X X v State of Kerala