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Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008
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State submits documents in Alandur court

Special Correspondent

Proceedings against former Minister P.J. Joseph in sexual harassment case

Photo: A. Muralitharan

Under scrutiny: Former Minister for Public Works P.J. Joseph arriving at the Judicial Magistrate Court at Alandur in Chennai on Tuesday. —

CHENNAI: Examinations of witnesses in a case relating to the alleged misbehaviour by P.J. Joseph, former Kerala Minister, with a woman co-passenger aboard a flight in August 2006 commenced at the Alandur Judicial Magistrate on Tuesday.

Lakshmi Gopakumar, television personality who is the complainant, gave her statement to N. Ramanathan, the Judicial Magistrate “in camera” inside his chamber in the presence of advocates representing both sides, while her husband, Gopakumar, and captain of the Kingfisher flight Shaji Madhavan, recorded their statements from the witness box inside the court hall.

Mr. Gopakumar told the Magistrate about the events that took place on the aircraft and the subsequent events, including the inquiry by a senior police officer of the Kerala government.

Following the conclusion that there was some substance in the complaint made by Ms. Lakshmi, the Minister resigned.

Mr. Shaji Madhavan, while responding to queries from Mr. Joseph’s advocates, said they did not maintain a diary of events that took place inside aircraft during its journey. Joseph Rajan, Under Secretary, Department of Home, Kerala, submitted a set of documents relating to the case that were sought by the court.

Further hearing of the case has been posted to September 30 and examination of other witnesses, including other passengers and flight crew, would be held that day. Ms. Lakshmi was travelling in the flight from Chennai to Kochi when the incident was alleged to have taken place.

After the report by the senior Kerala police officer, Ms. Lakshmi also filed a complaint at the Chennai Airport police station. Along with other passengers and cabin crew, she had earlier recorded her statement to the Judicial Magistrate in Tambaram last year.

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