Bhubaneswar, Jan. 29 -- In a widely discussed courtroom observation, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday questioned whether an unmarried man's sexual conduct with multiple consenting adults should influence his chances of obtaining bail in a rape case.

The remarks came during the hearing of Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil's anticipatory bail plea in a serious offence involving allegations of rape, coerced termination of pregnancy and related charges registered at Nemom Police Station. The bench, led by Justice Kauser Edappagath, reserved its decision after probing the prosecution's arguments opposing bail.

While the prosecution argued that the accused's history of sexual relationships with several women demonstrated a pattern of intimida...