The 30-year-old woman who has leveled rape charge against former Kerala Minister Jose Thettayil, presently an MlA of the Janata Dal(S), on Tuesday told the High Court that she stood firm in her allegation against him despite the Court’s observation that rape charge was unlikely to be maintainable as the relationship was possibly based on mutual consent.
In the statement she gave in the Court on Tuesday as per its direction, the woman categorically stated that the act committed against her by Thettayil was nothing but rape. However, the Court, which had on July 9 stayed for ten days any legal action on the basis of the FIR against the MlA, extended the stay by another ten days.
Affirming that the sexual relationship with Thettayil was not based on mutual consent, the complainant opposed his counsel’s argument that her complaint was politically motivated. She added that it was Thettayil who was trying to give political colour to the issue and pleaded to the court not to quash the rape charge against him.
The woman also requested the Court to withdraw the stay imposed on actions on the FIR against Thettayil. The High Court granted time for Thettayil to reply to the written explanation given by the woman. The case would be taken up again on Friday. The woman, an MCA hailing from Manjapra village in the Angamaly constituency represented by Thettayil in the Assembly, had complained to the police on June 23 that Thettayil, now 63, and his son Adarsh (26) had been sexually abusing her for the past two years.
She had also submitted webcam-grabbed video recordings of the sexual act between her and the MlA. According to her, Thettayil had abused her sexually promising that his son would marry her while Adarsh abused her feigning love. She said that she had decided to record the relationship with Thettayil after he withdrew the offer of marriage with his son and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the relationship.
In the meantime, the Janata Dal (S) has reportedly taken a decision not to let Thettayil participate in party functions. Though the party has officially taken a position that Thettayil need not resign over the charge, there is strong dissent in the Janata Dal(S) and the Opposition lDF of which it was a member, over his continuance as MlA while facing such a serious charge.