Marxist MLA facing sexual charges appears before party

CPI(M) MLA P K Sasi, facing allegations of sexual abuse by a woman leader of the party Wednesday appeared before the two member commission which is probing the charges against him.

Sasi appeared before the party appointed commission this afternoon, sources said.

Senior leader and state law and cultural affairs minister A K Balan and party MP P K Sreemathy are probing the charges levelled against Sasi by the woman leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India,the youth wing of CPI(M).

Sreemathy later told reporters that the probe was on and refused to give any further details.

Opposition Congress and BJP had alleged that the CPI(M) had tried to hush up the issue.

However, the Marxist party has maintained that it had intervened immediately on getting the complaint against the legislator on August 14.

The allegation against the legislator, who represents Shornur constituency, came to limelight after the complainant forwarded a copy of her petition to CPI(M) General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury.

Acknowledging receipt of the complaint, Yechury had said in Delhi that it had been forwarded to the state leadership of the party for necessary action.

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had heard the complainant's explanation and Sasi was later summoned to the AKG centre here to hear his side of the allegation.

The chairperson of the National Commission for Women Rekha Sharma, had also intervened in the matter and had stated that the panel would send an inquiry team to Kerala to probe the case, if the state police chief does not apprise it about the action taken in the matter within 15 days.