KOZHIKODE: MSF state president PK
Navas
was arrested by the police and later let off on station bail on Friday in connection with the case registered on the complaint filed by the leaders of Haritha. The women’s wing of MSF had alleged that he had made anti-women and sexually-coloured remarks against his female counterparts recently.
Chemmangad police recorded his arrest after he was asked to appear for interrogation at the police station before inspector C Anithakumari on Friday noon. He was booked under IPC Sections 354-A (1) (iv) (making sexually coloured remarks) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
In their complaint, Haritha leaders said Navas had – during the MSF state committee meeting held in Kozhikode on June 22 – asked a Haritha leader to explain their opinion about an organizational matter with a remark, ‘even a prostitute would have a justification, you tell that’. Ten Haritha leaders had lodged a complaint with the women's commission which was forwarded to Kozhikode police chief AV George. The case was initially registered by Vellayil police and it was given to Chemmangad inspector of police later.
Police had already recorded the statements of Haritha leaders. Police said the complaint had allegations against MSF Malappuram district general secretary Abdul Wahab and investigations in this regard were underway. Police have issued a notice to MSF state general secretary to produce the minutes of the MSF state committee meeting where the alleged sexually-coloured remarks were made.
Meanwhile, Navas refuted allegations and said lies and half-truths were surfacing in the media over the issue. He added that he will meet the media with facts on the issue after getting the party’s nod.
IUML had disbanded the
state committee of Haritha
after it had raised serious allegations against the three MSF leaders. The decision was taken on the grounds that Haritha state committee was continuously violating party discipline apparently over the refusal of Haritha leaders to comply with the party directive to withdraw the complaint they had lodged with the women’s commission against three MSF leaders, including Navas.
On Aug 26, IUML leadership had announced a ‘reconciliation pact’ under which Haritha leaders were to withdraw the complaint but the party had limited action against MSF leaders to just an expression of regret. But, Haritha leaders remained firm in their demand for disciplinary action and refused to withdraw the complaint. Haritha leaders felt that they hadn’t received justice as IUML hadn’t taken disciplinary action and the regret expressed by the three leaders actually amounted to disparaging them as there was not even a sincere admission of having committed a wrong.
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