ORDER

[Bail Appl. Nos.941/2022, 1018/2022, 1020/2022]

The petitioners in these bail applications are arrayed as accused Nos. 1 to 3 in Crime No.144/2022 of Fort Kochi Police Station, Ernakulam District alleging commission of offences under Sections 370 A (1) & (2), 511 of 328, 354 A, 354, 506 & 509 of the Indian Penal Code read with 34 of that Code; Section 7 read with Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act ; Section 7 7 of Juvenile Justice Act and Section 15 B of the Kerala Abkari Act . The petitioner is B.A. No.941/2022 is the 1^st accused, the petitioner in B.A. No.1020/2022 is the 2^nd accused and the petitioner in B.A. No.1018/2022 is the 3^rd accused. The parties are hereinafter referred to by their ranking in the array of accused unless otherwise indicated.

2. Briefly and shorn of all unnecessary detail, the facts are that the 3^rd accused was the promoter and owner of an organisation known by the name 'BIS Unicorn'. The de facto complainant was working with accused No.3 as Executive Assistant for some period of time. In the month of October, 2021, the 3^rd accused informed the de facto complainant that she would have to travel to with the de facto complai