Actor-politician Suresh Gopi questioned by Kerala police in sexual harassment case

On October 28, the Kozhikode city police had registered a case against Gopi under Section 354 A (sexual harassment of nature of unwelcome physical contact and explicit sexual overtures) based on a complaint from a journalist working with a TV channel.

After the police served a notice to the actor, the BJP launched a campaign saying the party will not allow the government to target the leader, who is keen to contest the next Lok Sabha elections from Thrissur.

The incident took place on October 27 when the actor-turned-politician was taking questions from reporters in Kozhikode. When the journalist asked Gopi a question, he put a hand on her shoulder and called her “mole (daughter)” as he began his answer. She backed away but when she asked another question later, he placed his hand on her shoulder once again, at which point she pushed it away.

Following the controversy over the incident, Gopi apologised. In a Facebook post, he said that he had behaved in “an affectionate manner” towards the journalist. “If she felt bad about my behaviour, her feelings should be respected. I tender an apology towards her if she felt bad about my behaviour. Sorry…,” he said.

However, the journalist said the apology was unacceptable and she would go ahead with the case. The BJP, meanwhile, picked up a fight with the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), which also lodged a complaint with the Kerala Women’s Commission.