Kerala minister summoned over blank SMSes to woman

The magistrate court at Thodupuzha has asked Joseph to appear before it on October 22. The court has already recorded statements of several witnesses,including that of BSNL officials.

The blank messages from Joseph was allegedly sent to Surabhis cellphone before the last Assembly elections after Jaimon had sought poll advertisements for Crime. Nandakumar said: Jaimon called Joseph from Surabhis cellphone as the battery of his cellphone was weak. Joseph rushed several blank messages and later had indecent talks over the phone,promising a job and other perks in return for sex.

During the hearing of the case,Jaimon had at one time told the court that Nandakumar and Kerala Congress legislator P C George,a rival of Joseph in the party,had hatched a conspiracy. Later,Jaimon changed his stance.

Joseph had faced a sexual harassment charge during the previous LDF regime when he was the public works minister. While flying from Chennai to Kochi,a woman had complained that he had misbehaved with her. A Chennai court later acquitted Joseph.

Reacting to the latest development,Joseph said he would prove his innocence in the court. There is no question of quitting,he said,while referring to the LDF demand that he should step down.