Medical report puts moral police in spot in Kozhikode

Kozhikode: The stubborn stand of a woman victim of moral policing changed the whole scene in Kozhikode the other day. Had K. T. Sindhu, former Payyoli panchayat president and Mahila Congress district secretary, not insisted on a medical examination after she and Thodannur block panchayat president Thiruvallur Murali were trapped in an office alleging sexcapade, she would have been easy prey.

She was vindicated by the medical report, which said there was no physical contact. But political opponents were not ready to accept it. They circulated videos and WhatsApp messages saying they were caught in the act.

She will soon file a complaint with Kerala Women's Commission on the incident and the social media campaign. She says it was a result of political rivalry, and the DYFI used moral policing to settle political scores.

"As a woman in politics, I had to go through many personal attacks. Two years back, I had to slap a drunkard who tried to abuse me in a train," she said.

"But this case is different. Their target was not me, but Mr Murali, who had been waging a war on police-drug mafia nexus like a one-man army. Any other woman found in his cabin could have faced it."

She insists the police scripted the drama and the DYFI implemented it. Mr Murali has lodged email complaint with the DGP. He will move Judicial first class magistrate Tuesday. "As elections near, the political opponents are trying to defame me," the Congress leader said.

It has also put the Left leadership in a fix. Some openly criticise the incident while others deny party's involvement. CPM district secretary P. Mohanan blamed it on locals and the police. "Party condemns such acts," he said.