Thiruvananthapuram: Dissatisfied with the response of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the issue of arrest of a theatre owner who reportedly helped bring to light a minor’s molestation on his premises, the Opposition on Tuesday staged a walkout from the Assembly.
Theatre owner EC Satheesh was arrested on Monday under Section 19 of the POCSO Act for allegedly failing to inform the police about the incident that occurred on April 18. He was subsequently released on bail.
Police said it was Satheesh’s friend Raveendran who informed Childline on April 25 after the theatre owner discussed the issue with him.
Malappuram district police chief Pratheesh Kumar said, “The theatre owner did not inform the police or child helpline. After about eight days, he told his friend Raveendran, who informed the authorities. The theatre staff had monitored the CCTV footage, noted the car number of the accused and handed it over to the theatre owner. However, he did not act on it.”
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala raised the issue in the Assembly, questioning the grounds of Satheesh’s arrest.
Responding to the charges, Vijayan said he had sought a report from the director general of prosecution, adding that the higher officials were not informed before making the arrest.
However, the opposition walked out of the Assembly, finding the answer unsatisfactory.
Though the incident dates back to April 18, police registered an FIR on May 12 when the CCTV footage of the incident went viral. The images purportedly showed businessman Moideen, 60, sitting between a woman and her minor daughter and molesting the child. Both the accused and the girl’s mother were arrested and have been remanded to judicial custody.
Changaramkulam sub-inspector KG Baby was suspended for the delay in the investigation and a case was registered against him.
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