PG Manu, a former Senior Government Pleader of the Kerala government, was found dead at his residence in Kollam earlier today. The lawyer, who had been accused of multiple instances of rape, is believed to have died by suicide. His death comes just days after a fresh allegation surfaced, potentially jeopardizing the bail granted to him in an earlier rape case.
In 2023, Manu was arrested following accusations that he raped a woman who had approached him for legal advice. The woman alleged that Manu called her to his office under the pretext of consultation, sexually assaulted her, and later circulated private images of her without consent. An FIR was registered against him under Sections of the Indian Penal Code related to rape, as well as provisions of the Information Technology Act. The incident prompted his resignation from the post of Senior Government Pleader.
Manu’s attempts to secure anticipatory bail were unsuccessful in both the Kerala High Court and the Supreme Court. He was remanded to judicial custody in January 2023 and granted bail in March of the same year. The Kerala High Court, while granting him bail, had imposed a strict condition:
“The petitioner shall not commit any offence similar to the one of which he is accused or suspected of the commission,” the Court had stated.
Last week, a video went viral in legal circles showing a man confronting Manu and accusing him of raping his wife, who had also approached Manu seeking legal assistance. According to sources, the woman alleged that Manu manipulated her during the consultation and coerced her into non-consensual acts. A police complaint was reportedly being prepared, and if filed, it would have constituted a clear violation of Manu’s bail conditions, almost certainly leading to his re-arrest.
Faced with the looming possibility of another arrest and mounting public scrutiny, Manu was reportedly under immense pressure. His body was discovered at his Kollam residence on Monday morning. Police sources have confirmed that he died by suicide, though a detailed investigation is ongoing.
The Kerala legal fraternity has been left shaken by the events, with many calling for stronger ethical scrutiny and institutional safeguards in cases involving abuse of power by legal professionals.
Police have not confirmed whether the second alleged victim has formally filed a complaint, but officers say preliminary statements have been recorded and further proceedings are underway.
The incident highlights the gravity of the allegations against those in positions of legal authority and has sparked debate over the adequacy of institutional responses to such cases.
