Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the arrest of Venu Gopalakrishnan, owner of an IT company at Infopark, Kerala, in connection with a rape and sexual harassment case filed by a female employee.

A bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan, considering his petition against the Kerala High Court's denial of anticipatory bail, issued notice to the State and the complainant. The bench further ordered that no coercive action should be taken against him, subject to the petitioner cooperating with the investigation.

On September 11, the Kerala High Court had refused anticipatory bail to Venu, while extending protection from arrest to other accused in the case, including the firm's director and employees. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas had observed that there were serious allegations in the complaint, noting anomalies in the investigation process, and expressed that the allegations against Venu could not be said to be wholly false.

The prosecution alleges that Venu (accused no.1) sexually exploited the complainant, while the co-accused threatened her with dire consequences, including death threats, if she pursued her complaints. It was further alleged that the complainant was coerced into withdrawing complaints before the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), and that attempts were made to forge digital evidence and delete material from her devices.

The FIR, registered at Infopark Police Station, invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Sections 64 (punishment for rape), 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 75 (sexual harassment), and 351(2) (criminal intimidation), read with Section 3(5) (common intention). Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, has also been invoked.

The accused has countered that the allegations are fabricated and motivated, alleging that the complainant and her husband are attempting to extort ₹30 crores from him by making false allegations.

Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi, Ragenth Basant, Advocates Thomas J. Anakkallunkal, Anupa Anna Jose Kandoth, Dhanya Sunny, Hima Bhardwaj, and Vishnu P., AOR appeared for the petitioner.

Venu Gopalakrishnan v. State of Kerala and another | SLP (Crl) 15379/2025

Click Here To Read/Download Order