Shweta Menon's initial statement says Congress MP touched her

Thiruvananthapuram: Days after Malayalam Actress Shwetha Menon withdrew her harassment complaint, initial statement by Shweta Menon to the Kollam police states that she was sexually harassed by Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup at the venue of the President's trophy boat race in Kollam.

The statement accessed by CNN-IBN states that the MP touched her twice in an unbearable manner at the venue. "At several occasions he came too close and touched me in between the programme. He went on with this act right from the time I got out of the car. He started holding my hand while walking towards the venue and held my hand even at the venue," Shweta's statement said.

She said that the MP touched her without her permission and she felt insulted and depressed by this act.

It was not just the MP, while leaving the venue, a man who wore a golden colour Kurta, kept his hand on her back. She said that she was never insulted like this in any other programme.

Based on this statement the Kollam police registered a case under section 354 and 354 (A) for outraging the modesty of a woman. But after the case was registered, Shweta withdrew all legal action against Peethambara on November 3.

Shweta said that it was due to the repeated public and personal apology by Peethambara Kurup she decided not to press legal charges. She also said that the decision was taken after due consultation with her guruji, her father and husband and there was no pressure behind this move.

However, later on November 4, Peethambara Kurup said in a press conference at Kollam that the apology tendered by him was on behalf of the organising committee.

The incident took place on November 1 and the police acted on the complaint filed by DYFI, the youth wing of CPI (Marxist).

Police sources say that the case will be closed as Shweta does not want to press charges. Police sources also say that she will have to either record her statement before the magistrate or before the investigating officer. Technically the case is still on but nothing has moved forward."