Accused joins TV show as contestant

A day after a hyped television reality show premiered in Kerala, a row involving one of its 16 contestants has hit the programme.

The presence of actor and television personality Sabumon — accused of making sexually offensive remarks on a woman BJP activist — in the first season of Bigg Boss has set off a controversy.

Earlier this month, Sabumon made sexually explicit remarks through social media on Lasitha Palakkal, a Kannur-based BJP activist.

On Monday, Lasitha criticised Kerala Police for claiming that the accused was absconding even as he joined a television show as a contestant.

“I’ve already filed many complaints with the police. I want to know from the state police chief why no action has been taken,” she said in a Facebook post.

Lasitha was recently removed from her position as district secretary of the BJP-affiliated Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, allegedly over her controversial social media posts.

Bigg Boss, hosted by superstar Mohanlal, premiered on a popular television channel on Sunday.

An official in the Panur police station where the case was registered confirmed that Sabumon was yet to be questioned in connection with the case. “Investigation on the petition is continuing and the cyber cell is also involved in the probe,” the official told DH.

Lasitha’s post that question police inaction is being shared widely on social media. She said the police would need only two days to detain Sabumon from a house where the 16 contestants live in the 100-day reality show.

“If the police don’t take action on my petition in four days, I’ll stage a protest in front of the chief minister’s official residence,” Lasitha said.