Fresh sexual harassment case filed against veteran writer Civic Chandran

Kozhikode: The Koyilandy police has registered a fresh sexual harassment case against veteran writer, author and social activist Civic Chandran (71), filed by a young woman writer.

The Kozhikode Sessions court postponed the hearing in anticipatory bail plea of Chandran (on the first sexual harassment case filed on July 17 by a Dalit woman writer) to August 2, when the prosecution side showed objection to the bail plea before the court today, citing that Chandran was involved in similar cases.

The team investigating the first case was led by Vadakara Deputy SP, while the fresh case was being probed by Koyilandy police. Chandran was absconding and his mobile phone was switched off. Police sources said the search operation was going on.

A fresh case was filed by a young woman writer residing in West Hills, citing that veteran writer Chandra allegedly making sexually advances at Nandi beach during the last day of a book exhibition function in February, 2020.

Earlier, another Dalit woman writer had alleged that Chandran had exploited her, while she was in Kozhikode during a book release function in April, 2021.

Police registered a case under sexual offence and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act). The first case was registered after the ordeal of the woman was shared by Women Against Sexual Harassments, a Facebook page that publishes ordeal of survivors in sexual harassment incidents protecting their identities. (UNI)