Sexual assault case: Palakkad councillor denied bail

Palakkad: A court in Mannarkkad has denied bail to Palakkad municipal councillor Prashobh C Vatsan, who is accused of sexually assaulting a dalit woman after allegedly luring her with a promise of employment.Rejecting the bail plea, the Mannarkkad SC/ST court observed that the accused could influence witnesses and tamper with evidence if released. The court also noted that granting bail in a case of such gravity would send a wrong message to society.Prashobh surrendered before the Palakkad Town South police on May 27 after the high court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. Earlier too, the special court had rejected his bail application. Police had intensified efforts to trace him in Palakkad and neighbouring parts of Tamil Nadu, as he had remained absconding after the case was registered.According to the complaint lodged by the survivor, Prashobh befriended her after offering her a job opportunity and later trespassed into her residence and sexually assaulted her. The complaint was submitted to the chief minister, following which the Palakkad Town South police registered a case on the directions of the district police chief.Prashobh, who represents ward 24 in the Palakkad municipality, was expelled from the Congress after police registered the case.