Kollam/Kochi: Actress Shweta Menon today withdrew legal action against a Congress MP after formally accusing him of molesting her, appearing to be nonplussed by a high-decibel political campaign as
well as a backlash marked by an attack on her career.
Shweta, twice winner of the best actress
award in Kerala, said she would not pursue the molestation charges since
the MP had apologised.
Her statement came hours after police in Kollam, had booked the MP, 70-year-old N. Peethambara Kurup, for sexual harassment on the basis of a statement Shweta had given them today at her home in Kochi.
"In the wake of Mr Peethambara Kurups repeated public and personal apology about the incident at the Presidents Boat Race at Kollam, I am withdrawing all legal and other actions against him," Shweta, 39, said in an emailed statement from Bangalore.
The actor sincerely thanked the media and the film fraternity for extending their support to her.
Leaders of CPI(M)s youth outfit DYFI, on whose complaint police initiated action, however, said the legal process could continue even if Shewta withdrew her charge.
Shweta made the climb down within hours after she stood by the charge against Kurup in her statement given to the police, based on which a case was registered against him.
Saturday night, along with her husband Sreevalsan Menon, she had told reporters after meeting office bearers of various film industry bodies that she would forward a detailed complaint to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Kurup had all along held that the charge against him was totally untrue and produced some photographs of the Fridays event claiming that the actress was harassed by some others. However, TV footage showed the Congress MP moving towards the actor and touching her.
Though the MP said he did not indulge in such a mean act 'by look or by touch', he regretted if the actor felt offended during the function.
Earlier, police registered a case against Kurup based on Shwetas statement, given to the police at her apartment in Kochi Sunday morning.
Police had charged Kurup with IPC sections 354 and 354 (A) for assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty. The actor said she was also harassed by another person during the President's Trophy boat race at Kollam on Friday, who has also been charged.
Acting on a complaint lodged by the DYFI, a police team led by a woman Circle Inspector had gone to Kochi Sunday morning to record Shewtas statement.
Shweta, a two-time state award winner and also a TV anchor, told the police team at her apartment in Kochi that she was insulted by Kurup and another person during the function. She had reportedly broken down while the statement was being recorded.
Earlier on Sunday, Kurup reiterated that the charge against him was totally untrue and he produced some photographs of the event, claiming that the actor was harrassed at the scene by some others.
"I am past 70. I have passed the age of getting excited by the presence of women at public functions," he said.
Shweta, twice winner of the best actress
award in Kerala, said she would not pursue the molestation charges since
the MP had apologised.Her statement came hours after police in Kollam, had booked the MP, 70-year-old N. Peethambara Kurup, for sexual harassment on the basis of a statement Shweta had given them today at her home in Kochi.
"In the wake of Mr Peethambara Kurups repeated public and personal apology about the incident at the Presidents Boat Race at Kollam, I am withdrawing all legal and other actions against him," Shweta, 39, said in an emailed statement from Bangalore.
The actor sincerely thanked the media and the film fraternity for extending their support to her.
Leaders of CPI(M)s youth outfit DYFI, on whose complaint police initiated action, however, said the legal process could continue even if Shewta withdrew her charge.
Shweta made the climb down within hours after she stood by the charge against Kurup in her statement given to the police, based on which a case was registered against him.
Saturday night, along with her husband Sreevalsan Menon, she had told reporters after meeting office bearers of various film industry bodies that she would forward a detailed complaint to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Kurup had all along held that the charge against him was totally untrue and produced some photographs of the Fridays event claiming that the actress was harassed by some others. However, TV footage showed the Congress MP moving towards the actor and touching her.
Though the MP said he did not indulge in such a mean act 'by look or by touch', he regretted if the actor felt offended during the function.
Earlier, police registered a case against Kurup based on Shwetas statement, given to the police at her apartment in Kochi Sunday morning.
Police had charged Kurup with IPC sections 354 and 354 (A) for assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty. The actor said she was also harassed by another person during the President's Trophy boat race at Kollam on Friday, who has also been charged.
Acting on a complaint lodged by the DYFI, a police team led by a woman Circle Inspector had gone to Kochi Sunday morning to record Shewtas statement.
Shweta, a two-time state award winner and also a TV anchor, told the police team at her apartment in Kochi that she was insulted by Kurup and another person during the function. She had reportedly broken down while the statement was being recorded.
Earlier on Sunday, Kurup reiterated that the charge against him was totally untrue and he produced some photographs of the event, claiming that the actor was harrassed at the scene by some others.
"I am past 70. I have passed the age of getting excited by the presence of women at public functions," he said.
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