Overview

• Two additional women emailed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to allege sexual assaults by Vedan in separate incidents during 2020 and 2021.
• The Kerala High Court granted a Kozhikode-based doctor permission to join Vedan’s anticipatory bail plea after she accused him of repeated assaults on the promise of marriage.
• On the doctor’s complaint, Thrikkakkara police registered an FIR under section 69 of the BNS code for sexual intercourse under a false promise of marriage.
• Vedan has been absconding since the doctor filed her complaint and is subject to a police lookout circular aimed at preventing his departure from India.
• Both new complainants said they first raised #MeToo allegations in 2021 but delayed formal complaints over concerns about case handling and leaks of personal details.