Thiruvannathapuram:
Kerala Congress strongman P J Joseph's three-decade-long political career had come crashing down soon after a flight he boarded in 2006. Joseph was accused of sexually harassing a woman co-passenger on board that flight following which he had to quit the Cabinet.
Now acquitted after a 10-month-long trial in a Tamil Nadu court, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan is waiting to welcome him back.
"I am happy with Sriperumbudur court verdict. His party will decide about his re-induction into the Cabinet and the LDF leadership will take an appropriate decision," he said.
PWD Minister Mons Joseph who represents Kerala Congress Joseph in the cabinet now, has offered to resign to make way for his party chief. But the Opposition has accused the LDF Government of weakening the case by rejecting an earlier report by a senior Kerala police officer, indicting Joseph.
"The government totally rejected the IG's report. Then the complainant had to approach the court in Chennai. This is a very shameful issue," said Shanimol Usman, the Mahila Congress president.
While acquitting P J Joseph the court is learnt to have criticised the prosecution for failing to provide substantial evidence in the case. Clearly, the observations of the court reflect the lopsided investigations often witnessed in such complaints.