Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to IT Entrepreneur in Rape Case

The Supreme Court granted anticipatory bail to Kerala-based IT entrepreneur Venu Gopalakrishnan, noting that the rape allegations appeared to be a "counter blast" following a failed financial settlement.

The Bench observed that the complainant and her husband had initially proposed a ₹30 crore settlement to resolve their disputes.

The Court highlighted that the FIR was only filed after the appellant lodged an extortion complaint against the couple.

Concluding that the criminal proceedings were likely motivated by the failed settlement, the Court made the appellant's interim protection absolute, subject to cooperation with the investigation.

[Venu Gopalakrishnan v. State of Kerala]