THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Crime Branch has taken the statement of former state police chief T.P. Senkumar in connection with the case pertaining to the controversial statement in an interview to a Malayalam magazine. A team led by organised crime wing SP Mohammed Shabeer recorded Mr Senkumar’s statement the other day. A case was earlier registered on the basis of a few petitions alleging that his statements could trigger communal sentiments. According to sources, Mr Senkumar reiterated his stand that his statements regarding ‘Love Jihad’ in the state as well as increasing Muslim population were on the basis of documents and studies that were in the public domain.
He also said that the reporter who took his interview recorded it without his consent. Apart from replies to the questions by the interviewer, certain personal talks were also made in the interview, he reportedly said. The Crime Branch had earlier recorded the statement of magazine reporter P.S. Ramshad who interviewed Mr Senkumar a day after his retirement. The mobile phone used to record the interview was also handed over to the investigation team. Meanwhile, state police chief Loknath Behera sought legal opinion on a petition of the Women in Cinema Collective seeking action against Mr Senkumar for making certain derogatory remarks against the actor who faced sexual assault in Kochi recently.
Mr Senkumar allegedly made the statements during a telephone conversation with another person while the magazine interview was going on and his conversation was recorded in the magazine reporter's mobile phone. ADGP south-zone B. Sandhya was learnt to have given a report on the issue to Mr Behera. Police sources refused to disclose the details, though there were reports that action was recommended against Mr Senkumar. Sources said that it would be difficult to make Mr Senkumar legally liable for the conversation as it was personal.
