India, April 18 -- A court here on Friday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of an expelled Congress leader accused of sexually assaulting a Dalit woman, officials said.

Mannarkad Special Court for SC/ST cases judge Jomon John rejected the plea filed by Prashob C Valsan, councillor of the 24th division of Palakkad Municipality. Last month, Palakkad South Police registered a case against Valsan after a woman filed a complaint alleging that he had sexually assaulted her multiple times on the promise of securing her a job and marrying her. She also alleged that the accused forced her to terminate a pregnancy and later began avoiding her. After the case was registered, Valsan went into hiding. During the Assembly election period, the BJP a...