THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kovalam police on Tuesday registered a case against Perumbavoor MLA Eldhose Kunnappily on charges of kidnapping and inflicting bodily harm on a woman. The police booked the MLA under non-bailable charges based on the complaint filed by a woman who accused him of molesting her. The MLA has been booked under IPC sections 362 (abduction), 323 (causing voluntary hurt), 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman), and 506 (intimidation).

After registering an FIR under non-bailable sections, the case was handed over to District Crime Branch Assistant Commissioner Anil Kumar for further investigation and follow-up. As the accused is an MLA, the decision of the District Crime Branch is to summon the MLA for questioning with the permission of the Speaker after receiving the files of the case and take further investigation steps.

Eldhose Kunnappily and his female friend reached the hotel in Kovalam on September 14. The complainant told the police that she had a verbal argument with the MLA in Kovalam and while returning from there in a car, she was beaten and molested by him. The woman had lodged a complaint with the city police commissioner. Although the complaint was forwarded to the Kovalam station, no case was registered for a week. The police registered a case after the incident became news and controversial.

The woman has revealed that the MLA's PA was also in the car at the time of the incident. The woman has also given a statement before the magistrate that she was standing firm on the complaint.

The police said that the woman, who collapsed while recording her statement, has been shifted to the hospital. Police will record her statement in detail once she leaves the hospital.