Bangalore/Kollam: Mayalayam actress Shwetha Menon on Sunday evening withdrew her police complaint about sexual abuse filed against Congress MP N P Kuroop saying she was fully satisfied with the latter’s apology.
Speaking to mediapersons, Shwetha Menon said, there was no pressure whatsoever on her.

“In the wake of Mr Kurup publicly apologizing to me, I withdraw all the cases against him. My father and husband said it is a good thing to forgive him”.

“He apologized thrice on television and he called me personally and I forgave him”, said Shwetha Menon.

This is what Shwetha Menon released on Sunday night: ” In the wake of Mr Peetambhara Kuroop’s *repeated *public and personal apology about the incident at the President’s Boat Race at Kollam, I am withdrawing all legal and other actions against him.

“I have taken this decision after due consultation with my respected guruji, Gul Saheb, my father and my husband. There is no pressure whatsoever behind this move.

“From my heart, I sincerely thank the  media for its immense support, and my association, Amma and other industry associations like Fefka and the producer’s fraternity who stood solidly behind me during the last few days of extreme personal stress.  Thank you.  Shwetha Menon”

Earlier  on Sunday,  Kurup was  booked by the police on a complaint by Shwetha Menon that she had been groped by him at a function here on Friday.

Police charged 71-year-old Kurup with IPC sections 354 and 354 (A) for assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

Kurup, who represents Kollam in the Lok Sabha, was booked within hours of a police team recording the statement of the actress in which she stood firm by her charge against the politician.

Menon had told police she was also groped by another person during the President’s Trophy boat race here, who has also been charged.

Acting on a complaint lodged by CPI-M’s youth outfit DYFI, the police team led by a woman circle inspector went to Kochi this morning to record her statement.

The 39-year-old actress had told police at her apartment in Kochi that she was insulted by Kurup and another person during the function.

Shweta, two-time state award winner and also a TV anchor, broke down while the statement was being recorded.

She along with her husband Sreevalsan Menon, had told reporters Friday night after meeting office bearers of various film industry bodies that she would forward a detailed complaint to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Earlier in the day, Kurup reiterated that the charge against him was totally untrue and he produced some photographs of the event, claiming that the actress was harrassed at the scene by some others.

“I am past 70. I have passed the age of getting excited by the presence of women at public functions,” he said.

The incident has triggered strong protests from film fraternity and women’s outfits, which have deploring “failure” of the authorities to act against the MP.