Palakkad (Kerala), March 27 A woman has filed a complaint with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the police, alleging that a Congress councillor sexually assaulted her here, 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 the woman's complaint, she works as a beautician and stays in shared accommodation.
She alleges that the councillor's father had previously misbehaved with her when she went to his shop for tea.
Following this, Prashob befriended her and later proposed a relationship.
As she did not have a stable income, she sought help in securing a full-time job, which he allegedly promised to arrange, according to the complaint.
The councillor allegedly came to her room when her friend was not present and sexually assaulted her, it said.
The woman alleges that such incidents have occurred more than once.
She further alleges 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 Prashob that she was pregnant, he allegedly asked her to take pills to terminate the pregnancy.
The woman also alleges that the accused is an influential person with close links to MLAs and MPs, and expresses concern about her safety.
Police said that a preliminary investigation 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.
This development comes at a time when the Congress is already facing criticism from rival parties over multiple sexual assault cases registered against sitting MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, which have been raised during the Assembly election campaign.