Misbehaviour with woman scribe case: Union minister Suresh Gopi seeks bail in alleged journalist misconduct case

NEW DELHI: Union minister Suresh Gopi sought regular bail from a magisterial court on Wednesday amid allegations of misbehaving with a woman journalist . The case, which has drawn significant public attention, involves a complaint filed by the journalist working for a local television channel.

The court has scheduled the matter for framing charges in January next year. During the bail hearing, Gopi’s wife and brother served as sureties, as confirmed by his lawyer, who spoke to reporters outside the court.

The controversy began when a video surfaced showing Gopi placing his hand on the journalist's shoulder during an interaction with reporters, prompting her to push it away twice. In light of the backlash, the actor apologized publicly, saying that he had intended to treat the journalist with "affection."

The Nadakkavu Police registered the case in October last year under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses the outraging of a woman's modesty. Following the proceedings, Gopi's lawyer indicated plans to challenge the trial court's decisions in the Kerala High Court.

As the case unfolds, it continues to attract scrutiny and discussions about appropriate conduct in professional settings.