Arun Kumar, the consulting editor of Reporter TV and the first accused in a POCSO case, has filed an anticipatory bail application in the High Court. The case alleges that Arun Kumar misbehaved with a minor girl and recorded a video of the incident. Since the charges are non-bailable, he has directly approached the High Court for anticipatory bail, bypassing the district court where Reporter TV operates.
Meanwhile, Arun Kumar is said to have traveled to Delhi to avoid police action. If the High Court denies bail, police may proceed with his arrest. Sources indicate that he has relocated from the Reporter TV office in Kochi to Delhi to prepare for any adverse outcomes in the legal proceedings. He is currently at the Reporter TV office in Delhi and is consulting with advocate Beeran for legal strategies. Reports suggest that Arun Kumar is spending time at Beeran’s residence and office to finalize precautionary legal measures.
Apart from Arun Kumar, Reporter TV employee Shabas Ahmed has also filed an anticipatory bail plea in the High Court. Advocates P.K. Varghese and P. Vijayan Bhanu are representing them. Arun Kumar, 46, is the editor of Reporter TV, while Shabas Ahmed, 24, is another employee of the channel.
The allegations stem from an incident during a school festival in Thiruvananthapuram, where both accused conducted an interview with a minor girl, allegedly capturing inappropriate footage and asking objectionable questions. Following a complaint by the State Child Welfare Department, a case was filed, which was later handed over to the police for further investigation.
Given that the complaint originated from the State Child Welfare Department, it is unclear how the High Court will respond to the bail applications.
