Malayalam Producer-actor Vijay Babu, who is absconding after being charged in the rape case, will be issued a red corner notice if he does not surrender to the police by Tuesday.
According to a report by The Times of India, Kochi City Commissioner CH Nagaraju said that they have a 90% confirmation about the accused’s location. It may be noted that there are hints that Babu had fled from Dubai to Georgia.
“We are in touch with the Indian Embassy and the concerned country’s embassy. We can give him a final chance to appear by May 24 and if that time expires, then we will have to issue a Red Corner notice. We almost know where he is,” Nagaraju added.
He added, “It seems like the anticipatory bail plea is listed on Monday. His decision could be based on the decision in court. But we are going forward with our efforts to locate and bring him back”.
Earlier on Friday, speaking to Silverscreen India, the commissioner confirmed that Babu’s passport was impounded and he said that the police department had asked the External Affairs Ministry to inform the embassy of the accused’s destination country to cancel his visa, as well. “Once the passport is impounded, the visa also gets cancelled. So, if the destination country cancels his visa, they can deport him back to India.”
It may be noted that a female actor filed the complaint on April 22, alleging that Babu had physically abused and sexually exploited her between March 13 and April 14, this year.
After the news about the sexual assault allegation broke out, the producer went live on Facebook and spoke about the matter. He flouted the law and named the survivor. Another case was also registered against Babu for revealing the identity of a rape victim. Babu then fled to Dubai from Bengaluru on April 24. The absconding actor has not surrendered so far.
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In the meantime, he has also moved the Kerala High Court seeking pre-arrest bail in the rape case. In the petition, the producer has alleged that the actress befriended him to land more roles in films. He has said that the sexual assault allegations were raised after she realised that she was not cast in any new movie.
Following this, the court sought the state government’s stand on the petition and decided to consider it after the summer vacation. Now, Justice P Gopinath will hear Babu’s petition on Monday.