Kerala Minister in dock over molestation scandal

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 22 (UNI) Kerala Public Works Minister P J Joseph, mired in a molestation scandal, today urged Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan to hold a comprehensive inquiry into the charges against him and offered to quit if found guilty.

The Minister called on the Chief Minister at his official residence Cliff House this morning following newspaper reports that he had misbehaved with a woman co-passenger on board a flight from Chennai on August three.

Mr Joseph, leader of the Kerala Congress (J), alleged that it was a conspiracy to finish him off politically. ''All the truth should be brought out,'' he added.

Though the woman had not lodged a formal complaint, a comprehensive inquiry by a high-official should be conducted at the earliest so that ''I can prove my innocence.'' The timing of such an allegation was also significant as it came a couple of days after the charges against him in the Maitri Housing deal were proved baseless, he said.

He also alleged that it was an attempt to tarnish the image of those, who were free of corruption in public life.

The victim's husband told TV channels yesterday that the incident occurred after the cabin lights were off and the flight was readying for taking off. His wife had lodged a complaint with the cabin crew after 'someone' caught her from behind. In her complaint, she did not specify any name.

The news came out after the Nedumbassery airport security wing got a call from the Chief Minister's office, seeking to verify the incident.

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