After media footage showed Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup trying to grab famous Malyalam actress Shweta Menon at the venue of the President's Trophy boat race on Friday, the minister denied having committed any such act.
"It is totally untrue. I am telling this since my name has come up in a section of the media in connection with the incident," 73-year-old Kurup, representing Kollam in the Lok Sabha, told PTI.
Actress Shweta had complained about the bitter experience to Kollum district collector. She is yet to lodge a formal complaint against the MP.
"If we get a complaint, after investigation appropriate action will be taken," Kerela CM Oommen Chandy told PTI.
The incident triggered protests from women activists and opposition political leaders, despite denial by the politician of trying to molest the cine actress.
"For the time being it needs to be seen only as a politically motivated move when elections are approaching. It is painful that any kind of malicious attack could be unleashed against me just because I am a politician," Kurup added.
The minister issued his statement after television footage showed Kurup touching Shweta at the event.
This is the third incident in 2013 when a Congress leader was involved in an alleged sexual assault case.
Former Rajasthan Minister Babulal Nagar has been booked on charges of allegedly raping a 37-year-old woman at his residence. He was suspended by the Congress high command and is currently lodging at the Jaipur Central Jail.
Another MLA in the Ashok Gehlot government, Udai Lal Anjana, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman.
