Though exonerated by the Supreme Court, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Prof PJ Kurien finds himself in the unenviable position of having to defend himself against allegations of involvement in a rape committed 17 years ago.

The Left Front in Kerala demanded his resignation as deputy chairman, following the reiteration of the allegation last week by the victim.

This comes in the background of the Supreme Court setting aside the Kerala HC’s acquittal of 35 people accused of raping a girl from Suryanelli village in Kerala’s Idukki district in 1996.

Following the SC verdict, the girl demanded a fresh investigation against Kurien — which snowballed into a political controversy because the Left Front and a section of the media had launched a campaign for his resignation.

Reaching the capital on Thursday, Kurien said the allegation against him has been raised intermittently, but three police investigations and judicial process up to the SC had cleared him of all accusations several times over in the last 17 years.

“I have subjected myself to all possible investigations and judicial scrutiny possible under the law of the land. What more investigation is required?” he asked.

He pointed out that the police investigations were vetted by the Left Front-appointed advocate general, and Nayanar had ordered the closure of the investigation.