Kerala High Court Seeks State’s Reply on Petition Challenging Bail Granted to Lawyer in Rape Case
The Kerala High Court on Thursday issued notice to the State in a petition filed by a woman advocate from Ernakulam, seeking the cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to lawyer Rahib K.Y., who has been accused of rape on the false pretext of marriage. The matter was taken up by Justice G. Girish, with the plea challenging the trial court’s May 17 order granting pre-arrest bail to the accused on the grounds that the case involved a consensual relationship.
6/28/20251 min read
The Kerala High Court issued notice to the State on June 26, 2025, regarding a petition filed by a woman advocate practicing in Ernakulam seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to lawyer Rahib K.Y. He was accused of rape based on false promises of marriage. The complainant alleges that the relationship began in July 2023, escalated to repeated sexual assault, culminated in a coerced abortion in February 2024, and revealed that Rahib was in another relationship. Allegations also include misappropriation of her personal belongings, gold, documents, and rental property deeds, shared during a period they lived together.
Notice Issued: Justice G. Girish took up the petition and directed the State to respond.
Grounds for Bail: The trial court, on May 17, 2025, granted anticipatory bail citing a “consensual relationship” between the parties.
Alleged promise of marriage was false.
Repeated sexual assaults allegedly coerced by the accused.
Forced abortion in early 2024.
Concurrent relationship with another woman.
Misappropriation of personal property.
Legal Question: Whether a relationship originally consensual can lose its consensual character if it was based on false representation, and whether such circumstances warrant revocation of bail.
Interim Order: Notice issued to the State; matter adjourned pending submission.
Pending Consideration: The Court did not cancel bail immediately but has kept it under review based on the State’s forthcoming response and evidence assessment.
Status: Anticipatory bail remains effective as per the trial court’s May 17 order, subject to outcome of current proceedings.
The Kerala High Court is actively scrutinizing whether the accused's claim of a consensual relationship can withstand the complainant’s allegations of deceit, coercion, and property misuse. While bail has not yet been revoked, the State's upcoming reply and judicial review will be determinative. The hearing is likely to focus on whether these allegations, if substantiated, justify cancellation of anticipatory bail.