Eyewitness says govt pleader tried to molest woman

Kochi: The police have recorded the statement of an eyewitness in the case related to the molestation bid on a woman by government pleader Dhanesh Mathew Manjooran.

One Shaji, who runs a restaurant at M G Road in the city told the special investigation team probing the case that he had seen the accused trying to molest the woman at 7.10 PM on July 14.

Manjooran was chased and caught by locals after the woman raised an alarm following the molestation bid by him.

The police, who arrived at the spot after they were alerted by the woman, recorded her statement and arrested Manjooran. The case was registered under Section 354 (outraging the modesty of women).

The High Court had last week refused to stay the proceedings in the case.

According to Manjooran, he was framed by the police and the incident as reported in the media did not take place.

The victim later retracted her statement.

The incident snowballed into a major controversy leading to a face-off between the legal fraternity and City Police, with the lawyers alleging that Manjooran was framed, even as the police claimed that the disgraced lawyer’s kin had coerced the victim to retract her statement.