The case dates back to 2006 when the media took up the issue in a big way. P.J. Joseph, the then public works minister, is alleged to have misbehaved with a woman co-passenger on a flight from Chennai to Kochi.

He first denied that any such thing happened, but soon succumbed to intense pressure and in September 2006 announced his resignationn from the cabinet. Senior party colleague T.U. Kuruvilla replaced him as minister.

Kuruvilla's innings did not last long and in August 2007, following a land scam allegedly involving his children, he too had to resign, making way for Mons Joseph.

However, in May this year, a court in Tamil Nadu gave a clean chit to P.J. Joseph.

The date for his entry in the cabinet will now be fixed by the LDF and reports indicate it could happen in the first week of August.