Trial in sex scandal case to begin in city court on Sep 16

Chennai, Aug 12 (UNI) The Trial in the sensational ''sex scandal case,''involving former Kerala Public Works Minister P J Joseph would commence at a Magistrate court here on September 16.

When the two-year-old case came up for hearing, Alandur Judicial Magistrate N Ramanathan fixed the date for commencement of trial and ordered issue of summons to four witnesses, including Ms Lakshmi Gopakumar, the alleged victim in the case.

The Magistrate also directed the Kerala Government to submit before the court on September 16, the original report of Inspector General of Police B Sandya, who inquired into the alleged misbehaviour of Mr Joseph with Ms Lakshi Gopakumar, a co-traveller on a flight.

The former Minister was accused of misbehaving with Ms Lakshmi, who travelled along with him on a Kingfisher flight from Chennai to Kochi in September, 2006.

After the scandal broke out, Mr Joseph had to stepped down from the Ministry and the Kerala cabinet had deputed Ms Sandya to inquire into the incident.

Besides Ms Lakshmi Gopakumar, the Magistrate ordered summons to her husband Mr Gopakumar, Mr Shaji Madhavan and Mr Samuel N Gokale, who were the Flight Commander and Flight Captain respectively on the flight, when the alleged incident took place and cited as witnesses in the case.

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