Nadar face Sexual Harassment Case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, January 14: The Crime Branch probe into a sexual harassment complaint by a senior ndian Forest service (IFS) officer Prakrithi Sreevastava against the former forest minister andJanata Dal Secular leader Neelalohitadasan Nadar has found the accused guilty, according to reports.

The petitionioner alleged that Nadar made sexual advances while he was a minister in the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. The JD (S) leader had to resign as a minister after the then transport secretary Nalini Netto leveled similar allegations against him.

The probe report prepared by investigating officer S Sreejith, SP CBCID Kozhikode, has been forwarded to ADGP Crimes MGA Raman for ratification. The chargesheet in the case, registered under section 354 IPC, would be filed before the magistrate court once the report is ratified by the ADGP, reports said. More than 30 witnesses, including former chairperson of State Women’s Commission Sugathakumari, parents and relatives of Prakriti Sreevastava and senior officers of the forest department to whom the officer had narrated the harassment at the hands of the former minister were questioned during the probe. Reports suggested that the statements given by majority of the victims pointed an accusing finger against the former minister.

The molestation incident allegedly took place at Kozhikode Government Guest House, on February 27, 1999 when the former minister summoned Sreevastava for official discussions. The state of Kerala has been rocked by a number of sexual offenses involving prominent politicians. (keralamonitor.com)