Key witness in Kerala sex scandal case held

The politically sensitive Kozhi-kode ice cream parlour sex scandal in Kerala took a new turn yesterday, with the police arresting Regina, the witness in the case, and producing her before the Kozhikode first Class Judicial Magistrate.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy meanwhile faced the wrath of Democratic Youth Front of India (DYFI) volunteers in Delhi.

The developments have deepened the problems the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala is facing after Regina stated last week that she had been sexually abused thrice by state industry minister P.K. Kunjhalikutty seven years ago, when she was a minor.

Yesterday's surprise arrest by the Panniyankara police of Regina was on the basis of a case of attempted suicide registered against her over four years ago. Regina added to the confusion by stating that she had made new revelations against Kunjhalikutty at the behest of Anweshi Counselling Centre president K. Ajita. Regina was later let off on a bail of Rs3,000 (Dh250).

Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) leaders immediately alleged that the girl was being threatened to change her statement in order to save Kunjhalikutty from facing criminal charges.

In other developments, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was surrounded in New Delhi by DYFI volunteers at the Kerala House there. Both Chandy and Kunjhalikutty faced troublesome questions from journalists in Bangalore where they had been to attend the IT.Com event before going to Delhi.

In the state capital, the Youth Congress President Anil Kumar made things more difficult for the UDF yesterday by calling for Kunjhalikutty's resignation. Things have become so difficult for the top UDF leadership that they have been forced to escape through the back door at various venues for fear of being attacked by those calling for the resignation of Kunjhalikutty.

When Kunjhalikutty left for Bangalore on Wednesday afternoon, over 200 policemen were deployed at the Thiruvananthapuram airport to ensure safe passage for him. Just before the minister reached the airport, police removed a group of DYFI volunteers who were waiting at the visitors lounge, preparing to wave black flags at him.

In Delhi, Chandy had to escape through a back door of the Kerala House after DYFI supporters blockaded the front gates of the building. In Bangalore, where the chief minister and Kunjhalikutty met Infosys chief N.R. Narayanamurthy to discuss the company's expansion plans in Kerala, journalists needled the duo about the sex scam and the the bashing of mediapersons by Muslim League supporters. Both declined to comment.

Doubts have been raised by Regina's statement yesterday that she had given a written statement to the magistrate while she had told reporters a few days ago that she was illiterate.

The police will also have to answer why they had not arrested the girl for the attempted suicide before, especially since they were giving her protection at her residence over the past few days.

Several political parties and social organisations are demanding Kunjhalikutty's resignation and women's organisations in the state have decided to join hands and lead the way in demanding his ouster.

Kunjhalikutty also faced more flak from within the United Democratic Front (UDF) yesterday, with Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran repeating his demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.

Demanding Kunjhalikutty step down from the cabinet, Youth Congress President Anil Kumar said: "A doubt has been raised in people's minds by the statement of the girl. It is only just that until that doubt is cleared the minister steps aside. We are not demanding that he be forced to do that in a punitive manner. Instead, he should voluntarily step down in the great democratic traditions of the state."

Left Democratic Front (LDF) Convenor Paloli Mohammad Kutty called for a CBI investigation into the Kozhikode ice cream parlour sex scandal, while Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary Veliyam Bhargavan said chief minister Oommen Chandy was involved in a "conspiracy to protect Kunjhalikutty".

Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the failure of the UDF to even discuss the sex scam issue at its co-ordination committee exposed "the political poverty of the UDF".

Addressing a Yuva Morcha rally here yesterday which marched towards the chief minister's residence, Bharatiya Janata Party leader O. Rajagopal said "everyone with some self respect in the state has called for Kunjhalikutty's resignation", and that it was high time he did so.

Kunjhalikutty described the allegations of the girl as "rambling" when the controversy broke out, but has not commented on the matter since then.

Women's groups call for minister's resignation

Jyothi Narayanan, Convenor of Stree Vedi, said yesterday, "Media reports have painted a convincing picture about the incident," adding that "we should not forget that Kunjhalikutty is also the social welfare department minister who is expected to look after the welfare of women in the state".

Anweshi Counselling Centre President K. Ajita said women's organisations would join hands to demand the industry minister's resignation and that the women's movements would mount strong protests in the coming days.

Staff Report