Kochi-based makeup artist Anez Ansari granted anticipatory bail by HC in sexual harassment case

Kochi: Renowned Kochi-based makeup artist Anez Anzare (37), who has been accused of sexually harassing a number of of his shoppers, was granted bail by the High Court on Monday.

Justice Gopinath P granted bail to Anez in 4 completely different instances in opposition to him, together with the offences of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of girls, saying his custodial interrogation was not obligatory.

The courtroom granted him anticipatory bail topic to the situations that he would execute separate bonds, in every case, of Rs 1 lakh with two solvent sureties every for the like-sum, he shall cooperate with the investigation in each method, will seem earlier than the investigating officer as and when referred to as upon to take action, shall not try and contact the complainants, intervene with the probe or intimidate the witnesses.

In three of the instances, the complainants had accused Anez of sexually harassing and molesting them on their wedding ceremony day once they went to his studio for bridal make-up.

In the fourth case, the lady, who was a former worker of the makeup artist, accused him of inappropriately touching and groping her on the pretext of exhibiting her across the studio.

Accusations a ploy to run Anez out of enterprise, says his lawyer

Anez’s lawyer had opposed the allegations, saying they had been baseless, false and three of them pertained to the years 2015 and 2016 and had been subsequently, barred by time.

His lawyer additionally claimed that the accusations had been made to run him out of enterprise and allegedly on the occasion of 1 Priya, who was earlier related to the make-up artist.

The lawyer additionally claimed that the allegations surfaced instantly after an allegation of rape was levelled in opposition to a tattoo artist, which received consideration from the media.

The prosecution opposed grant of any aid to the make-up artist, saying a number of individuals, who don’t have any reference to each other, have raised the allegations and, subsequently, they can’t be written off as being a marketing campaign to drive the accused out of enterprise.

The prosecutor had contended that contemplating the character of the allegations, the custodial interrogation of the accused was completely obligatory.

However, the courtroom stated that holding in view the ideas relating to bail laid down in varied instances and contemplating the character of the allegations in opposition to the accused, he may be granted anticipatory bail in all of the instances registered in opposition to him topic to situations.

The courtroom stated that whereas the allegations had been critical, the utmost punishment offered for beneath the offences he was accused of was seven years.

(With inputs from PTI)

https://www.onmanorama.com/information/kerala/2022/04/25/anez-anzare-granted-bail-by-high-court.html