Govindan claimed that a victim in the POCSO case had said that Sudhakaran was present at one of the locations where she was raped.
KPCC chief Sudhakaran and CPI(M) secretary MV Govindan. (Wikimedia)
KPCC chief K Sudhakaran on Tuesday, 25 July, filed a defamation case against CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan in a magistrate court over the Marxist leader’s remarks connecting him with a POCSO case involving self-styled controversial antique dealer Monson Mavunkal.
Sudhakaran, who personally appeared before the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Kochi, also filed defamation cases against the CPI(M) mouthpiece Desabhimani as well as another party leader from Kannur district, his lawyer said.
Citing a report that appeared in the CPI(M) mouthpiece, Govindan had said that the victim in the POCSO case told the Crime Branch that Sudhakaran was present at one of the locations where she was raped.
Later, in a setback to the ruling party, the Crime Branch wing of Kerala Police said the rape survivor had not made any statement referring to Sudhakaran.
The Congress had earlier complained to the state police chief about the “false” statement made by Govindan.
The party then alleged that Govindan had committed offences under various sections —including 153(A) (promoting enmity), 499, and 500 (defamation)— of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Kerala Police Act, and therefore he should be punished.
Mavunkal was sentenced to life imprisonment in the rape case.
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