Olympian Mayookha Johny accuses Kerala's Ex-womens' commission chief of intervening to save rape accused

Thiruvananthapuram: After being forced to step down as the chairperson of the Kerala Women's Commission (KWC) following insensitive remarks to a domestic violence victim, M.C. Josephine has now found herself in another controversy for intervening to save a rapist.

As per an explosive revelation by the former national athlete, Mayookha Johny in a press meet held on Monday, the former accused Josephine and a few police officials of playing foul and saving her close friend's rapist.

Speaking to the media at Thrissur, Johnny, who holds the current Indian National record for triple jump, said her best friend was raped and later threatened by her rapist -- an influential person from Thrissur.

"The incident occurred in 2016 and two years later my friend got married. With the help of her husband, she registered a complaint before the local police in March this year," said Johnny, who continues to represent India in international athletic meets.

"Initially, the police were cooperative and even the Superintendent of Police, Poonkuzheli was helpful. The police said there is enough evidence for the case. But then nothing happened. We think that Josephine had intervened in the case.

"Now the police says that they cannot go forward as there is not much evidence. The police did not even take the CCTV visuals as part of the evidence collection. Now we know that if the accused has money and political clout, no case will be registered," said Johnny.

The former KWC chairperson Josephine was not reachable to get her comments on the allegations of the athlete.

Josephine last week quit as chairperson of the Commission following widespread protests against her remarks to a woman, who had complained about the domestic violence she was facing.