By Ashraf Padanna/Thiruvananthapuram


Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy yesterday promised to launch an investigation if actress Shweta Menon registers a complaint about an alleged molestation attempt in public by a lawmaker belonging to the ruling coalition.
Menon, 39, a former Miss India second runner-up and model, did not name the accused, but said he had groped and touched her indecently at the President’s Trophy Boat race in Kollam where she was the chief guest.
“I am in touch with AMMA (the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) to decide what should be done about it,” Menon said. “That’s really irritating. I went there to watch the regatta but I had to rush to my hotel room as the assaults continued.”
She called the Kollam district collector B Mohanan on Friday evening and lodged a complaint. Mohanan, however, denied receiving any complaint sufficient for initiating an inquiry.
Television channels have been flashing the footage of N Peethambara Kurup, 71, Kollam Lok Sabha member and Congress leader, in which he was seen trying to touch the actress at every available opportunity.
“I have not come across any such complaints,” the chief minister told reporters here. “I have spoken to the district collector about it. We will decide on the probe as soon as we get a complaint.”
 Actor Innocent, the president of AMMA, confirmed that Menon had called him and told him an ‘elected representative’ had harassed her.
“Let her reveal the name of the person. But she has said it was an elected representative,” he said.
However, Kurup who apologised for being caught in the controversy said he was being targeted as the general elections were round the corner.
“I have never crossed the limits of decency in my long political career. I am waiting for the truth to come out,” Kurup, a first-time MP known close to the family of the late Congress Party leader K Karunakaran, said. “It is totally untrue.”
The incident sparked widespread protests with the Malayalam film fraternity and women’s groups demanding stern action against the politician. Women leaders of the Congress also came out in support of the actress.
“I was really humiliated. I stand by the statement I made yesterday,” Menon said in Kochi yesterday.
Kurup said it was extremely painful that his name had been dragged into the unfortunate incident and he was confident of proving his innocence with the backing of strong evidence.
“It is painful that any kind of malicious attack could be unleashed against me just because I am a politician,” he said.
Condemning the incident, state Women’s Commission member Licy Jose hinted at seeking an inquiry.
The opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) demanded the immediate arrest of the MP. The youth activists of the LDF took out a protest march to the MP’s office.
Former Communist Party of India (Marxist) legislator and Democratic Mahila Association state secretary K K Shylaja said it was a shame.
“The visuals speak the truth and the authorities should start initiating action against him,” said Shylaja.
CPM central committee member P K Sreemathi described it as a blot on Kerala and “the need of the hour is that Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan should immediately direct the police to take action against the MP.”