Palakkad (Kerala), March 27 A woman has filed a complaint with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the police, alleging sexual assault by a Congress councillor, officials said on Friday.
The complainant, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe community, has accused Prashob C Valsan, a Congress councillor from the 24th division of Palakkad Municipality, of sexual assault.
According to her complaint, she was working as a beautician and staying in shared accommodation. She alleged that the councillor's father had previously misbehaved with her when she went to his shop for tea.
Following this, Prashob allegedly befriended her and later proposed a relationship. As she did not have a stable income, she sought help securing a full-time job, which he allegedly promised to arrange, the complaint said.
The councillor later allegedly came to her room when her friend was not present and sexually assaulted her. The woman claimed that such incidents had occurred on multiple occasions.
She further alleged that she was also sexually assaulted in a car near the district government hospital and at a hotel.
According to the complaint, when she informed him that she was pregnant, Prashob allegedly asked her to take pills to terminate the pregnancy.
The woman also alleged that the accused is an influential person with close links to MLAs and MPs and expressed apprehension about her safety.
Police said a preliminary probe has been initiated based on the complaint and that a case will be registered. They added that the accused could not be reached for comment.
The development comes as the Congress faces criticism from rival parties over multiple sexual assault cases registered against sitting MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, which have been highlighted during the Assembly poll campaign.
BJP candidate Sobha Surendran reacted to the alleged sexual assault incident, claiming recent developments show there are “several Mamkootathils” in the Palakkad constituency.
“If a woman has shed tears, I will go to any extent to ensure justice, regardless of the fact that I am a candidate here,” she said.
She added that the BJP would not allow Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan to support the accused, as in the case of Mamkootathil, while pretending to be sincere.
Surendran said she would meet the Palakkad District Police Chief to seek an explanation as to why no action has been taken despite the complaint.
She warned that the BJP would launch protests, even halting election campaign activities, if there was any lapse on the part of the police. “For me, the dignity of a woman is more important than a few votes,” she said.
She also accused former Palakkad MLA and current Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil of fostering individuals like Mamkootathil, who are allegedly involved in sexual offences.