Palakkad (Kerala) | A case was registered against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil on Wednesday by the Kerala police for various offences, including stalking and harassing women on social media.
The development came hours after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram that all possible legal steps would be taken in connection with the allegations against Mamkootathil.
The Crime Branch wing of the police registered the case and launched an investigation on the instructions of state DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar, a statement issued by the State Police Media Centre said.
The case was registered after it was found that complaints received by the DGP included commission of cognizable offences, it said.
The FIR was registered under sections 78(2) (stalking) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 120 (o) (causing, through any means of communication, a nuisance of himself to any person by repeated or undesirable or anonymous call, letter, writing, message, e-mail or through a messenger) of the Kerala Police Act, it further said.
Crime Branch Thiruvananthapuram Range DySP C Binukumar is in charge of the investigation, the statement said.
Mamkootathil had recently quit as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused a young leader of a prominent political party of misbehaviour, triggering protests by the BJP and DYFI, the CPI(M)'s youth wing. He was also facing an internal party probe.
Subsequently, several women and a transgender person came forward with similar allegations.
Following the release of audio clips of a purported conversation between the MLA and a woman, the Congress suspended him from the party's primary membership.
Kozhikode(Kerala) | Congress MP Shafi Parambil and DYFI activists engaged in a verbal altercation on Wednesday after the Left-wing youth outfit members blocked his vehicle and allegedly shouted abusive slogans against him near Vatakara here.
Parambil, the MP from Vatakara, was returning from an event when the incident occurred.
His vehicle was blocked by activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) at an intersection in protest against the Congress not seeking the resignation of party MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment.
As police intervened to remove the DYFI protestors, some of them were heard shouting abusive words at the MP who had rolled down the window of his vehicle.
Angered by the abusive words, Parambil got out of the car and shouted back at the protestors that he cannot be scared away by such tactics.
"You have the right to protest. But, there is no need to use abusive words. Don't play too much. You think I will be scared by your insults? You will have to find someone else for that," he said as police tried to get him back into his car.
However, the Vatakara MP got out of the car and told a TV channel that everyone has the right to protest and the Congress was never scared of that.
"But, it is not correct to be vulgar in the name of protests. No one is going to be scared away from Vatakara by such tactics. We will be here only," Parambil said before returning to his vehicle.
Mamkootathil had recently quit as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused a young leader of a prominent political party of misbehaviour, triggering protests by the BJP and DYFI, the CPI(M)'s youth wing. He was also facing an internal party probe.
Subsequently, several women and a transgender person came forward with similar allegations.
Following the release of audio clips of a purported conversation between the MLA and a woman, the Congress suspended him from the party's primary membership.
Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday criticised the Congress over its stand on suspended MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who faces sexual harassment allegations, and demanded his resignation.
Vijayan said the police would take all possible legal steps in connection with the charges against the Palakkad legislator.
He also dismissed Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, V D Satheesan's warning a day earlier that the CPI(M) should "stop playing too much" as it would soon face "shocking" revelations.
"Let it come. I am not responding to it now," Vijayan said with a laugh at a press conference here.
Vijayan assured that those who have levelled allegations against Mamkootathil "need not be afraid of filing complaints", as the state government would ensure their protection.
Responding to reporters' queries, he said the stand taken by the Congress and Satheesan was "not correct".
He pointed out that public opinion, as well as the views of several Congress leaders and members, was that the Palakkad MLA should resign.
Vijayan said Mamkootathil's actions not only reflected "criminal tendencies but also tarnished the image of politics and public life."
Despite widespread criticism from within and outside the Congress, the opposition leader was "trying to shield him", he alleged.
He (Satheesan) also got angry and said a lot of things. He should not have stooped to that level. It is not the correct stand on the part of the Congress or the opposition leader, Vijayan claimed.
Hitting back at the CM, Satheesan, at a press conference in Ernakulam, alleged that Vijayan was the only political leader in the country who has protected many of his party colleagues and leaders who were accused of making sexually coloured remarks.
The Congress leader also alleged that the CM was protecting an MLA who was an accused in a rape case.
He further claimed that various party leaders facing corruption allegations were protected by the CM.
"So, instead of teaching us, he (Vijayan) should examine himself in the mirror. When he is pointing one finger at me, four of his fingers are pointed at himself," Satheesan contended.
He also said that the Congress took the best possible action against Mamkootathil at a time when there was no complaint, FIR or case against the Palakkad MLA.
Mamkootathil had recently quit as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused a young leader of a prominent political party of misbehaviour, triggering protests by the BJP and DYFI, the CPI(M)'s youth wing. He was also facing an internal party probe.
Subsequently, several women and a transgender person came forward with similar allegations.
Following the release of audio clips of a purported conversation between the MLA and a woman, the Congress suspended him from the party's primary membership.
On Wednesday, the Crime Branch wing of Kerala police lodged an FIR and launched a probe against Mamkootathil for stalking and harassing women on social media.
