ACTOR, BJP
LEADER SURESH GOPI BOOKED ON JOURNALIST'S PLAINT
The Hindu Bureau
KOZHIKODE
The Nadakkavu police here on Friday registered a
case against actor and BJP leader Suresh Gopi after a woman journalist lodged a complaint alleging that
he misbehaved with her during
a media interaction in Kozhikode on Friday. She submitted the written petition
to the District Police Chief (Kozhikode City).
The complainant said she was mentally upset after
the actor allegedly touched her shoulders a second time even after she had resisted his first attempt. She alleged that the apologytendered by the actor on his
social media page on Saturday was a justification of his action and that she wanted to fight it legally.
Police sources said the actor was charged under Section 354 A
(punishment for sexual harassment of the nature of unwelcome physical contact and advances)
of the IPC.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists and many
women's organisations have sought
legal action against the actor. The Kerala State
Women's Commission also took up the issue after receiving a complaint from the
journalist. The panel sought a report from the District Police Chief.
Mr. Gopi's statement that he had interacted with
the journalist with fatherly affection drew criticism from
various quarters.
Though many of the BJP functionaries in Kerala supported Mr.
Gopi's stance, many
organisations and activists said he did not respect the complainant's attempt to resist his disturbing action.
A statement issued by the Network of Women in Media said the body language of
Mr. Gopi was aggressive and it should be considered as harassment at the
workplace. They said sections under the Protection of Women from Sexual
Harassment Act should be invoked. Functionaries of the Janadhipathya Mahila
Association said the attempts to justify unwelcoming touch as an expression of affection was absurd. They also extended moral support to the
journalist's legal fight against the alleged assault.
____________________________________________
Booked - à´•േà´¸െà´Ÿുà´¤്à´¤ു
Plaint - പരാà´¤ി
Lodge a complaint - പരാà´¤ി à´•ൊà´Ÿുà´•്à´•ുà´•
