Kerala journalist arrested over rape charges

Kerala police have arrested a senior journalist from Kerala for sexual harassment based on a sexual harassment complaint filed by his colleague. The accused, Amal Vishnudas, is a senior news editor with Mathrubhumi News, has been booked under Sections 376, rape, 377, unnatural offences, and 506, criminal intimidation. 

Police took the journo into custody after the woman, a junior scribe, working under him filed a complaint. "The woman lodged a complaint with the DCP on Tuesday. We have taken him to custody and is questioning," Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner Sparjan Kumar said. 

According to the complaint, the incident took place in December 2015. Amal was admitted to the hospital, and the woman used to visit him as they were coworkers. The accused befriended the woman and offered to marry her soon after he got a divorce. After getting a divorce, Amal refused to marry her, the complaint said.

The complainant has also accused Amal of sexual harassment. The duo was in a relationship for almost one-and-a-half years, and he took advantage of her sexually under the pretext of marriage. He also threatened to destroy her career if she revealed about her relationship with anyone, the complaint states. 

She has also alleged that Amal extorted money from her under the pretext of paying for the treatment of his father. 

Mathrubhumi News informed that it had suspended the journalist pending enquiry. 
 

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