TRIVANDRUM, 29 December 2004 — Kerala Industry Minister P.K. Kunhalikkutty resigned yesterday, two months after a 22-year-old woman alleged he had molested her when she was a minor.
He said he was innocent but decided to quit the Congress-led government to concentrate on the activities of his Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) party.
Kunhalikkutty announced his resignation at a time when Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his Cabinet ministers were engaged in rehabilitation of more than 100,000 people displaced by tsunamis.
He handed over a letter to IUML state President Panakkad Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal at Thangal’s residence in Malappuram, the party stronghold.
Thangal read out the two-page letter he received from the minister.
Thangal said the IUML Working Committee would discuss the matter on Jan. 1 and take a decision. Rejina, the alleged victim, said she was sexually exploited by Kunhalikkutty eight years back.
