Repeatedly touched by MP, Shweta in statement to police

Malayalam cine actor Shweta Menon, who chose not to proceed further after accusing a Congress MP of molesting her, had claimed in her statement to the police that she was repeatedly touched by him.

In her statement, lodged in a court here as part of the FIR in the case, she had said the MP, N Peethambara Kurup, started touching her and grasped her hand as soon as she alighted from the car on reaching the venue of the President's Trophy boat race here last Friday.

Shweta gave the statement to a police team led by a woman Circle Inspector who had gone from here to meet the actor at her apartment in Kochi on Sunday after the incident assumed a sensational dimension.

However, after giving the statement against the MP, Shweta made a U-turn on Sunday evening and announced her decision to withdraw the complaint against Kurup citing his apology to her for her hurt feelings.

The police had, however, filed the FIR in a local court as required by the law in such cases.

In the statement, the actress said along with Kurup there was another person, who wore a long kurta and a shawl around his neck, to receive her. Kurup grasped her hand as soon she got out of the car and continued holding it till they reached the function podium.

Feeling discomfiture, the actor then told the MP that she would go and speak to the audience only if he let go her hand.

She also alleged Kurup touched her two or three times and jostled her shoulders in a "disgusting" manner.

Feeling "insulted", she then decided to leave the venue without waiting to watch the boat race, Shewata had said.