P C George, a seven -term member of Kerala Legislative Assembly and who heads a faction of the Kerala Congress was arrested by the Kerala Police on Saturday in connection with a complaint filed by Saritha Nair, the solar scam ‘fame’. "This is nothing but political vendetta. I’ll fight it out in the Court room," George told reporters while he was being led to the police vehicle.
George, who was summoned to Thiruvananthapuram for questioning by the police team investigating a criminal conspiracy case filed against the former by K T Jaleel, the SIMI leader-turned-CPI(M) minister.
Mid-way through the questioning, a police team from one of the nearby stations reached the venue and took him into custody as a follow up to the complaint of molestation filed by Saritha Nair. She had accused George of molesting her in February 2022.
George (70), a maverick politician, has been slapped with Sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 354-A-sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment. A man committing any of the following acts (1) physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures or (2) a demand or request for sexual favors, or (3) showing [pornography against the will of a woman or (4) making sexually colored remarks. The offence under this section is cognizable, bailable and triable by any Magistrate.
Immediately after he was taken into custody by the police, George told media persons at Thiruvananthapuram that the arrest was the handiwork of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. “He is victimizing me because of my refusal to support the allegations made by Saritha Nair against former chief minister Oommen Chandi. I will fight it out in the Court,” said George .
He also said that Vijayan was upset over the latest disclosures made by Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the “Gold Smuggling Through Diplomatic Channel”.
Swapna had given a statement to a Magistrate in Ernakulam under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code in which she had alleged that Vijayan had used the diplomatic route to transport a suitcase stuffed with Indian currencies to the UAE.
She also said that Vijayan’s daughter Veena and wife Kamala had sough the help of the ruler of Sharjah for his help in making investments in that country.
Usha, George’s wife, too alleged that the chief minister was trying to vindictive towards her husband for not giving a statement to corroborate the allegations by Saritha Nair against Chandi. The trial court had quashed all charges levelled by Saritha Nair against Oommen Chandi.
Her charge was that Chandi, while he was chief minister, had summoned her to Cliff House, his official residence, and molested her sexually. She had filed complaints against most of the Congress leaders in the State charging them of abusing her sexually.
George has been taken to the Armed Reserve Camp of the Kerala Police where his statement was being
recorded.
This is the second time in as many months George is getting arrested by the Kerala Police. Earlier in June , he was arrested for delivering a speech, which according to the police, was with the intention to create enmity and hatred between communities.
George, a devote Catholic, while addressing a closed door session of Hindu activists had demanded that India should be declared as a Hindu Republic and trhe speech went viral leading to his first arrest.