The Principal District and Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday granted anticipatory bail to veteran filmmaker and former legislator P T Kunju Muhammad in a sexual misconduct case. Judge Rekha R granted the relief.

Earlier this month, the Cantonment Police registered a case against Muhammad following a complaint alleging that he molested a woman associated with the film industry at a hotel where they were staying to select Malayalam films for the recently held International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).

The defence counsel argued that the allegations were false and pointed out that the complaint was initially submitted to the Chief Minister instead of the police.

Opposing the bail plea, the public prosecutor said the allegations were serious in nature and that granting anticipatory bail could adversely affect the investigation.

After considering the submissions, the court granted anticipatory bail to Muhammad. The court directed him to appear before the investigating officer within seven days and cooperate with the probe, and ordered that he be released on bail in the event of his arrest during the investigation.