Kochi: The Kerala High Court has issued an interim order staying the registration of an FIR in a rape complaint filed by a woman from Ponnani, who accused several police officers, including former Malappuram SP Sujith Das, of sexual assault. The stay order was issued by Chief Justice Nithin Jamdar and Justice S. Manu in response to a petition filed by Vinod Valiyathur, the Ponnani Circle Inspector who is also an accused in the case. The High Court will further review the case on November 1.
The woman approached the High Court after alleging that police officials failed to investigate her complaint, despite repeated requests. In response, the court sought an explanation from the state government, which submitted a preliminary investigation report stating that the woman’s statements were inconsistent and that there was no sufficient basis to file a case against the accused officers. The report had also been reviewed by senior police officials, leading to the decision not to pursue further investigation.
The woman alleged in her complaint that Vinod Valiyathur, the then-CI of Ponnani, raped her when she approached him regarding a property dispute. She further stated that she was sexually harassed by Tirur DYSP V.V. Benny when she sought help in reporting this incident and that former Malappuram SP Sujith Das also sexually assaulted her when she approached him with the same complaint.
Previously, the Ponnani Magistrate Court had directed the Thrissur Range DIG to investigate the allegations and submit a report. Based on this report, the court had instructed to file an FIR, which was later stayed by the High Court upon Vinod’s appeal to a Division Bench.
