Actress Shweta Menon withdraws complaint against Congress MP

Malayalam film actor Shweta Menon on Sunday withdrew her complaint of molestation against Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup after the 71-year-old leader tendered a "personal apology".

The move came hours after he was booked by the police for "molesting" the leading actress at a function on Friday evening at the venue of President's Trophy boat race in Kollam.

"In the wake of Mr Peetambhara Kurup's repeated public and personal apology about the incident at the President's Boat Race at Kollam, I am withdrawing all legal and other actions against him," the 39-year old actress said in an e-mail message to media in Kochi tonight.

Stating that she took the decision after consultation with her 'guruji', her father and husband, she said "There is no pressure whatsoever behind this move."

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The actress sincerely thanked the media and the film fraternity for extending their support to her.

Leaders of CPI(M)'s youth outfit DYFI, on whose complaint police initiated action, however, said the legal process could continue even if Shweta withdrew her charge.

Shweta made the climb down within hours after she stood by the charge against Kurup in her statement given to the police, based on which a case was registered against him.

She had last night said that she would forward a detailed complaint to chief minister Oommen Chandy about the incident.

Kurup had all along held that the charge against him was totally untrue and produced some photographs of the Friday's event claiming that the actress was harassed by some others.

Though on Sunday he said he did not indulge in such a mean act "by look or by touch" he regretted if the actress felt offended during the function.

Earlier, police registered a case against Kurup based on Shweta's statement, given to the police at her apartment in Kochi on Sunday morning.

Police had charged Kurup with IPC sections 354 and 354 (A) for assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

The actor said she was also harassed by another person during the President's Trophy boat race at Kollam on Friday, who has also been charged.

Acting on a complaint lodged by the DYFI, a police team led by a woman Circle Inspector had gone to Kochi this morning to record Shweta's statement.

Shweta told the police team at her apartment in Kochi that she was insulted by Kurup and another person during the function.

PTI