Police in Kerala have arrested 39-year-old Chumathra Elimannil Saji who is a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), for circulating a nude video of a female CPI(M) member online.
He has now been booked under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and 11 others have been named in the case who is absconding.
The people who have been named in the complaint are CPI(M) branch secretary CC Sajimon and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader Nasar. As per Kerala Police, these two Communist leaders stripped the woman and took her nude photos and shared them on social media platforms.
According to the victim, this incident took place in May 2021 and the two prime accused allegedly took her in a car and committed the assault.
Sajimon and Nasar have been booked under Section 354 a (Sexual harassment), 354 b (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), and 294 (obscene acts) of the Indian Penal Code, Section 501 (Printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory) of the Indian Penal Code and 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) of the IT Act.
The victim alleged that the two accused gave her sedative-laced drinks and sexually assaulted her. Later they demanded Rs. 2 lakh, and if she failed to pay, they threatened to circulate the video on social media.
Sajimon was charged with sexual abuse on November 28. India TV News quoted one M. Krishnanunni, social activist and writer from Kozhikode, saying, “The CPM has been advocating woman’s rights and gender equality, and these are all farce. They are putting such abusers in key posts, and the party branch secretary is a key post for a ruling political party as he will have influence in a local police station and will also influence key decisions to be taken by the Police. The party knew that he was an abuser and had relegated him to a local committee member. Why did they give him a post as branch secretary even after this? This means he is a person who is close to party leadership.”
There are also allegations against the Police for not taking swift action as the accused belong to the ruling CPI(M) and were allegedly hiding in CPI(M) regional committee office. The Police only sprung into action after receiving severe criticism over the delay.
As per another incident, Sajimon was accused in another sexual abuse case wherein he had impregnated a married woman and later tried to discredit the DNA test report by using his political influence.
If justice has been delayed due to political pressure, to add insult to injury, the victim has been suspended by CPI(M) for filing a complaint against the party leader.
According to a report in Mathrubhumi, the woman worker has been suspended pending investigation on the basis of a complaint filed by the Mahila Association which is ironic as the party has also claimed that they have not received any complaint regarding sexual harassment.
However, If the complaint is proved to be genuine, CPM area secretary Francis V Antony said action will be taken against the guilty after consulting senior leaders.
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