A. K. Saseendran

A. K. Saseendran is an Indian Politician serving as the Transport Minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan ministry. He had resigned on 26 March 2017 over a sexual harassment allegation[1] but returned as minister on 1 February 2018 after getting acquitted in the case.[2] He belongs to Nationalist Congress Party and represents Elathur constituency. He was previously elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1980, 1982, 2006 and 2011.

A. K. Saseendran
Minister of Transport,Kerala
Assumed office
1 February 2018
Preceded byThomas Chandy
In office
25 May 2016 – 26 March 2017
Preceded byThiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan
Succeeded byThomas Chandy
Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
2011
ConstituencyElathur
Personal details
Born29 January 1946 (1946-01-29) (age 74)
Kannur
NationalityIndian
Political partyNationalist Congress Party
Spouse(s)Anitha Krishnan
ChildrenVarun Saseendran
ParentsK. Kunhambu
M. K. Janaki
ResidenceChovva, Kannur

Positions held
  • President, District Committee, Kerala Students Union Kozhikode (1963–66)
  • General Secretary, Kerala Students Union (1967-1969) and Kerala Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (1969-1977)
  • Vice President (1977-1978) and President (1978-1980) of Kerala Pradesh Youth Congress Committee
  • Member, Coffee Board (1978-1980)
  • Governing Board Member of Kerala Saksharata Samiti (1987-1991 & 1992 –1997).
  • Member Kerala State Housing Board(1987-1991,1992-1997&1997-2001).
  • Vice-President, Jawaharlal Nehru Public Library and Research Centre, Kannur
  • General Secretary(1999-2003) & Vice President, Nationalist Congress Party
  • Vice President (2003-2006) of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Kerala State Committee
  • Member, Advisory Committee, Food Corporation of India
  • Member, Working Committee, Nationalist Congress Party

Personal life

He is the son of K. Kunhambu and M. K. Janaki. He was born in Kannur on 29 January 1946. He is married to Anitha Krishnan and has one son Varun Sasindran. He resides at Mele Chovva, Kannur.

Controversy

On 26 March 2017, Saseendran resigned as minister after a newly launched malayalam television channel, Mangalam TV, aired a telephonic audio clip in which he is allegedly heard speaking in a sexually explicit way to a person, whom the channel claimed was a housewife.[3][4][5]

Later, the channel CEO apologised and admitted that it was a sting operation done using a woman journalist of the channel[6] after having denied it earlier.[7]

On April 4, the CEO and four mediapersons of the channel were arrested by the police for airing “obscene conversation” and criminal conspiracy.[8][9]

Later, Saseendran was acquitted in the case after the complainant, who had earlier alleged sexual harassment turned hostile in court and he returned as minister.[10][11] Saseendran was the second Minister to resign from the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet.[12]

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References
  1. "NCP's AK Saseendran acquitted; set to return to Kerala state cabinet". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  2. "After acquittal in sleaze talk case, AK Saseendran returns to Kerala cabinet". The Financial Express. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  3. "Minister A K Saseendran phone talk Mangalam tv exclusive launching YouTube 360p - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. "Kerala minister AK Saseendran quits over alleged obscene phone call with woman". Hindustan Times. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  5. "Kerala sleaze audio case: Mangalam TV channel CEO, 4 others arrested". Hindustan Times. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  6. "Mangalam TV CEO apologises for sting against former minister". The Indian Express. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. "'Will you stop journalism if HONEY TRAP proved'?; Mangalam CEO tongue tied in Editors Hour - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  8. "Kerala sleaze audio case: Mangalam TV channel CEO, 4 others arrested". Hindustan Times. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  9. Legal, India (11 April 2017). "Trouble in store for Mangalam TV". India Legal. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  10. "NCP's AK Saseendran acquitted; set to return to Kerala state cabinet". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  11. "After acquittal in sleaze talk case, AK Saseendran returns to Kerala cabinet". The Financial Express. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  12. "Kerala Transport Minister Saseendran quits after TV exposé". The Hindu. 26 March 2017.
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