Thiruvananthapuram: The Additional Sessions Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Perumbavoor MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly in the woman assault case. He has been directed by the court to appear before the investigating officer on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Kunnappilly informed the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leadership, which had sought an explanation from the MLA, that he was innocent and the case was fabricated.
In his letter to KPCC, Eldhose stated that the case was politically motivated.
"She introduced herself as an employee of a PR agency. Later, we became friends. However, I have not harmed her physically. The only aim behind this false complaint is to break me politically," stated the letter.
The defendant's lawyer had argued in court that the complainant has filed cases against several others in the past as well.
Apparently, there is a complaint against the woman also.
In his letter to KPCC, Eldhose laid out the details of the case against the complainant and pleaded that the committee hear his side of the story before taking any action regarding his suspension.
The assessment of the party leadership is that there's been a failure on the part of Eldhose. According to the leadership, by going incommunicado after being accused of rape, Kunnappilly 'weakened' the party's image in the state.
KPCC president K Sudhakaran has ordered an investigation into the issue. A call on his continuance would be taken after holding consultations with senior leaders.
It was on September 28 that the woman, a teacher residing in Pettah, filed an assault complaint against Kunnappilly. However, the registration of the case was delayed as the MLA and even the police, as the woman claims, tried to settle the case.
She alleges that Kunnappilly had at one point even offered her Rs 30 lakh to withdraw the complaint.
