Kerala Minister Calls Woman’s Father About Resolving Harassment Complaint In ‘Good Way’

AK Saseendran: Kerala NCP leader was accused of harassment by a woman. Kerala Minister AK Saseendran allegedly tried to resolve the issue over a phone to the woman's father asking him to resolve the complaint in a 'good way'.

A complaint of harassment was filed against the state committee member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), G Padmakaran on June 28 by a woman. NCP is a constituent party of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). Though Kundara police in Kollam are yet to take any action in the case, AK Saseendran, a Kerala Minister from NCP asked the woman's father to resolve the case in a 'good way' over the phone. The call recording of the alleged phone call between Saseendran and the woman's father surfaced on Tuesday, July 20.

According to the woman's complaint, Padmakaran tried to humiliate her. He allegedly grabbed her hand after the 2020 local body election and also tried to humiliate her on social media.

In the alleged call, AK Saseendran who is currently serving as the Minister for Forests in Wild Life Protection in Kerala is heard talking to the woman's father who is also an NCP leader in Kollam. Saseendran after identifying himself enquired about the “problem in the party” in Kollam. The woman's father responded saying that he had no knowledge about the issue within the party or what the Minister was talking about.

Saseendran then told him about the complaint. To this the father responded asking, "Sir, are you referring to the issue of Ganga Hotel’s owner, Padmakaran, grabbing my daughter’s hand?" After this, Saseendran is heard saying, "Yes, that is it. It should be ended in a good way," in the audio clip, according to reports. He also said that it would be bad for everyone if the issue becomes controversial.

To this, the woman's father asked, "If you say we can resolve it, tell me how." After this Saseendran ended the call by saying that it can be discussed further but not on the phone. After the audio clip was out, AK Saseendran admitted to having tried to solve the issue as the accused and the complainant's father are both his party members.