SC asks expelled AIADMK's Sasikala Pushpa to join the police probe in sexual harassment case

Earlier, the apex court had protected the expelled AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pishpa, from arrest in two criminal cases of alleged sexual harassment of her family maids and forging of documents in her anticipatory bail petition lodged by the Tamil Nadu police respectively.

It, however, had asked the MP to join the police probe of the two cases.

Taking note of the submission of her counsel that there was threat to her life, the bench had directed Tamil Nadu police to ensure full protection to her so that no harm is caused when she appears before the investigating agencies.

Sasikala had approached the apex court against the order of the Madras High Court rejecting her plea for anticipatory bail in the sexual harassment case and registration of the case on the order of the high court for allegedly forging documents while filing anticipatory bail plea.

Acting on directions of high court bench, police had registered cases against expelled AIADMK member and her two family members for allegedly submitting forged documents while filing anticipatory bail petitions in the case pertaining to ill-treatment and sexual abuse of two women domestic aides respectively.

Police had registered cases under IPC Sections 193 (punishment for false evidence), 466 (forgery of record of court or of public register), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged {document or electronic record).

The cases were registered against Pushpa, her husband R Lingeswara Thilagam and son Pradeep Raja.

On14 September, court had dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Sasikala Pushpa and her three family members, including her mother, on a complaint filed by the two women domestic aides.

They are facing charges under various IPC sections and also POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act for allegedly sexually harassing the domestic women aides.

-PTI