Logo

Logo

LDF in spot after MLA & son are accused of harassing woman

Kochi, 23 JUNE: In a major embarrassment for the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Opposition in Kerala, the police today registered a case…

Kochi, 23 JUNE: In a major embarrassment for the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Opposition in Kerala, the police today registered a case of
sexual harassment against former state transport minister and sitting MLA Mr Jose Thettayil and his son.
The case was registered at the Aluva police station here on the complaint of a woman native to  Angamally, the constituency which Mr Thettayil represents in the state assembly. While he is the first accused in the case, his son, Adarsh, has been named as the second accused.
The police said the woman’s statement has been noted down and that she had been taken to hospital for a medical examination. The woman has also told them that she has a video CD for proof, the police said.
Kerala home minister Mr Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said at Kottayam that since it was a complaint of sexual harassment, a lady officer, Sajita Begum Sultan, superintendent of police with the Ernakulam Crime Branch, would investigate the matter.
Reacting to the charges made against him, Mr Thettayil said he would face the case legally and said it was part of a “political conspiracy” aimed at tarnishing his image.
Mr Thettayil told television channels that he knows the woman and her family, but her complaint was “baseless”. He said that she had approached him to get married to his son. The woman has alleged that the father-son duo sexually harassed her last year at a flat at Aluva.
The case is likely to take the wind out of the sails of the LDF’s agitation on the solar scam both inside and outside the assembly.
Pro-UDF activists took out marches in various parts of the state, shouting slogans against Mr Thettayil. pti

Advertisement