<p>The 2017 actress sexual assault case has taken a political turn as the CPM questioned the timing of the allegations of “political intervention”. The assault survivor, a popular south Indian actress, had on Monday moved the Kerala High Court expressing her fear of political pressure on the case-investigating police officials to favour the accused, actor Dileep.</p>.<p>In her petition, the actress had also alleged that Dileep and his lawyers were trying to tamper with the evidence.</p>.<p>Referring to the petition filed on Monday, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the allegations of political interference to save Dileep had suspicious timing, as the Assembly by-poll for Thrikkakkara constituency is just round the corner.</p>.<p>At a recent election meeting, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, too, had said that allegations of political interventions in any police investigations were baseless.</p>.<p>The CPM leaders’ reactions came after the Congress used the actress’s allegations to accuse the government in its party election campaign.</p>.<p>The sexual assault, that took place in Kochi in 2017, is a matter of significance in the upcoming by-poll, as it was the then Congress MLA from Thrikkakkara constituency, the late P T Thomas, who had played a key role in helping the actress file a complaint.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, one of the judges of the Kerala High Court recused themselves on Tuesday from hearing the actress’s petition. Sources said that the actress had sought a change in the Bench.</p>.<p>The matter is likely to be considered by another Bench.</p>
<p>The 2017 actress sexual assault case has taken a political turn as the CPM questioned the timing of the allegations of “political intervention”. The assault survivor, a popular south Indian actress, had on Monday moved the Kerala High Court expressing her fear of political pressure on the case-investigating police officials to favour the accused, actor Dileep.</p>.<p>In her petition, the actress had also alleged that Dileep and his lawyers were trying to tamper with the evidence.</p>.<p>Referring to the petition filed on Monday, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the allegations of political interference to save Dileep had suspicious timing, as the Assembly by-poll for Thrikkakkara constituency is just round the corner.</p>.<p>At a recent election meeting, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, too, had said that allegations of political interventions in any police investigations were baseless.</p>.<p>The CPM leaders’ reactions came after the Congress used the actress’s allegations to accuse the government in its party election campaign.</p>.<p>The sexual assault, that took place in Kochi in 2017, is a matter of significance in the upcoming by-poll, as it was the then Congress MLA from Thrikkakkara constituency, the late P T Thomas, who had played a key role in helping the actress file a complaint.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, one of the judges of the Kerala High Court recused themselves on Tuesday from hearing the actress’s petition. Sources said that the actress had sought a change in the Bench.</p>.<p>The matter is likely to be considered by another Bench.</p>
