The Supreme Court of India on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Venu Gopalakrishnan, the owner of a Kochi-based software firm, who stands accused of sexually harassing a former employee and allegedly orchestrating a criminal conspiracy to frame her and her husband in a “honey-trap” case.
A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan overturned a previous decision by the Kerala High Court, which had denied the 50-year-old businessman protection from arrest. While granting relief, the apex court emphasized that Gopalakrishnan must extend “complete cooperation” to the ongoing investigation.
The Supreme Court’s intervention comes after months of legal volatility surrounding the case. Gopalakrishnan, a resident of Kakkanad who gained public attention for paying ₹45.99 lakh for a luxury car registration number, had approached the top court after the Kerala High Court rejected his bail plea on September 11, 2025.
“Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, in our view, the accused/appellant is entitled to the relief claimed under Section 482 of BNSS,” the bench observed.
The court directed that in the event of an arrest, Gopalakrishnan must be released on bail upon furnishing a cash security of ₹1 lakh with two sureties of a like amount. However, the bench issued a stern warning against any interference with the legal process.
“The appellant shall not misuse his liberty and shall not in any way influence the witnesses or tamper with the material on record,” the court stated, adding that any infraction of these conditions could lead to the cancellation of the bail.
The complexities of the case date back to July last year, when the victim and her husband were initially arrested by the police. At the time, they were accused of attempting to “honey-trap” Gopalakrishnan.
The narrative shifted significantly after the couple secured bail. The victim approached the court alleging that she had been falsely implicated in a retaliatory move. Following a court-mandated investigation into her claims, a fresh case was registered last month against Gopalakrishnan and three of his employees—Jacob Thampy, Eby Paul, and Bimalraj Haridas.
The charges against the tech executive include sexual harassment, outraging the modesty of a woman, and criminal intimidation.
The Kerala High Court had earlier taken a grave view of the allegations, noting that Gopalakrishnan had committed a “serious offence.” The High Court had expressed concerns that the appellant might use his considerable influence to tamper with evidence or intimidate witnesses if granted pre-arrest bail.
While the Supreme Court has now granted that protection, it clarified that its observations are limited to the bail proceedings. “It is needless to observe that the observations made in the present appeal shall not come in the way of the trial or other proceedings pending between the parties which shall be decided on their own merits,” the bench concluded.
