Actress Shweta Menon alleges being molested by Cong MP

Leading Malayalam cine actress Shweta Menon was allegedly molested by Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup at a function here last evening, triggering strong protests from film fraternity and women outfits despite vehement denial by the politician of doing such an act.
Without naming her tormentor, Shweta complained that she was "insulted" at the venue of the President's Trophy boat race here and the television footage of the event showed the MP moving towards the actress and touching her.
While 73-year-old Kurup termed the allegation as "untrue", Shweta said she stood by whatever she had said about the incident.
She said she would decide on further action on the matter after consulting the film Malayalam Artistes Association AMMA.

Though she has not lodged a formal complaint with the police, the actress claimed that she had told the District Collector of the bitter experience she suffered.
Seizing on that, women activists and opposition political leaders voiced strong resentment at the failure of the authorities to act against the MP based on her oral complaint or take a suo motu case by taking cognizance of the television visuals.

Refuting the charge, Kurup said "it is totally untrue. I am confident of proving my innocence. For the time being, it needs to be seen only as a politically motivated move when elections are approaching. It is painful that any kind of malicious attack could be unleashed against me just because I am a politician," he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters at Kottayam that he had not received any complaint from the actor so far on the incident. "If we get a complaint, after investigation appropriate action will be taken,." he said.
Condemning the incident, CPI(M) stalwart and Opposition Leader in the Kerala Assembly V S Achuthanandan said it was deplorable that the authorities had not bothered to act on either the actor's oral complaint or on their own ignoring the fact they are competent to do under the present law.
State Women's Commission member Licy Jose said in Kochi that she would take up the case before the panel and her personal view was that it was a fit case for suo motu action.

While many Congress leaders expressed personal resentment at the incident, the party was yet to take an official stand on the incident.
Meanwhile, pro-Left youth outfits took out marches in many places across the state and burnt Kurup's effigy.