Mumbai: The Dindoshi sessions court in Mumbai has postponed, for the second time, the pronouncement of its order on Binoy Kodiyeri’s anticipatory bail petition in a sexual harassment case to Monday. The court also directed the police to refrain from arresting Binoy, who is the son of Kerala CPM secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, until then.
Meanwhile, accepting a plea from the advocate of the woman who accused Binoy of sexually harassing her for several years, the court decided to hear her again. The court allowed the woman to employ another lawyer and asked her to present her new arguments in writing. According to the court, the woman, a bar dancer based in Mumbai, was facing threats as per the documents presented before it.
The woman’s lawyer argued that there was more evidence against Binoy. Visa documents and flight tickets sent by Binoy to the woman and child to travel to Dubai would be presented before the court. It was on April 1, 2015, that these papers were sent.
"The court permitted her to submit more evidence to establish Binoy's links. This includes a visa that he sent to her which mentions who he is. Why is Binoy shying away in the case? A simple DNA test will solve all the issues, but he is not cooperating," said her new counsel Mukhtar Abbas.
The lawyer accused Binoy of misleading the court while moving the bail plea.
In the FIR filed at the Oshiwara police station in Andheri area, the 33-year-old, who hails from Bihar, has alleged that Binoy sexually exploited her for several years on the promise of marriage and claims they also have a child.
She registered the complaint on June 13 after she came to know that he was already married. She said that till 2015, Binoy even used to send her money every month, for which she has already produced documentary evidence.
The Mumbai Police had earlier said that Binoy’s arrest would take place immediately in case his bail plea was rejected. A look-out notice was also issued against him, considering the possibility of the accused leaving the country. Police officers from Mumbai had reached Kerala also as part of the investigation, but they failed to trace Binoy, who is now in hiding.
The national and state leadership of the CPI-M including the accused's father Balakrishnan have washed their hands of the matter saying since Binoy is not a party member, the party has nothing to do with this and he alone should handle it. However, media had reported that Vinodini Kodiyeri, wife of Balakrishnan and mother of Binoy, had held talks with the complainant.
