Shiv Sena leader who caned couples in Kochi, was arrested in 2014 for sexual harassment

TK Arivindan, the main accused in the Marine Drive molestation allegedly sexually harassed a differently-abled woman.

news Kochi moral policing

The Shiv Sena leader, who is the main accused in Kochi’s Marine Drive moral policing case, has been accused of sexual harassment in the past.

The 57-year-old Shiv Sena leader TK Aravindan was arrested by Njarackal police in 2014 for allegedly sexually harassing a differently-abled woman, who was a part-time employee in a school. He was also remanded by the Ernakulam district court in the case. He has been out on bail.

Aravindan was charged under section 509 of IPC, insult the modesty of a woman and section 354A, sexual harassment. He was the PTA president of the school and the victim was a part-time sweeper there.

“The complainant was hearing impaired. She had complained that the accused had tried to molest her. He had caught her hands forcefully and conveyed some vulgar words to her by writing on her palm with his fingers,” an officer from Njarackal police station told The News Minute.

Sources said the woman was also allegedly threatened by the Shive Sena leader after the incident.

On Wednesday evening, a Shiv Sena march to Marine Drive in Kochi turned into a moral policing exercise, where several members chased couples and youth away using canes. The incident took under full media glare.

The police later arrested six Shiv Sainiks, TR Devan, KK Biju, KY Kunjumon, TR Lenis, KU Ratheesh and AV Vineesh, for unlawful assembly, threatening youths and obstructing police personnel.

On Friday, Yuva Sena President Aditya Thackerey suspended the six members involved the moral policing incident.