ORDER :

This Bail Application is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

2. The petitioner is an accused in Crime No.223/2025 of Vallikkunnam Police Station, Alappuzha. The above case is registered against the petitioner alleging offences punishable under Sections 74, 75(1)(ii) and 78(1)(i) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

3. The petitioner is a senior Congress Party leader. The prosecution case is that on 11.01.2025 at around 03.00 PM, while the defacto complainant was on her phone in front of her house, the accused approached her and stopped his vehicle. It is alleged that the accused told her to get inside the car to discuss some important political matter and insisted her to get into the car. While discussing the party matter, he groped her right thigh and when she pushed his hand away, he grabbed her left shoulder. The defacto complainant quickly opened the car door and rushed outside. It is also alleged that in February 2024, the accused contacted the defacto complainant to discuss the party programme and invited her to his residence. She visited his residence. The accused was seated in front of the hall, removed the front portion o