No sexual assault by Sasi, says CPM probe panel

Thiruvananthapuram: A commission set up by the CPM to probe an allegation against its Shoranur MLA P K Sasi has found that he has not committed any sexual assault.

Instead, the commission has recommended that action can be initiated against Sasi for misbehaving with the complainant over phone.

The phone conversation the legislator had with the complainant has been presented as a key evidence by the commission.

The state secretariat will announce action against Sasi today itself.

The CPM state secretariat had earlier accepted the inquiry commission's recommendation for action against Sasi. Though the secretariat discussed the issue last Friday, the decision was postponed to Monday; the recommendation was not forwarded to the state committee since Sasi was leading a party march then.

An explanation was earlier sought from Sasi on the complaint filed by a DYFI woman leader who had alleged sexual misconduct by him. The explanation submitted by Sasi will be discussed on Monday by the state secretariat of the party.

Action would be taken after scrutinising the explanation.

There was disagreement within the probe commission consisting of ministers A K Balan and P K Sreemathi. Sreemathi did not accept Balan's claim that the complaint was triggered by factionalism within the party. And, the report doesn't mention factionalism as a reason for the complaint. After a debate, the report was prepared unanimously by the commission.

Party veteran and administrative reforms commission chairman V S Achuthanandan too had sent a letter to the party general secretary seeking strict action against Sasi.