Kochi: KPCC President K Sudhakaran, second accused in a cheating case involving fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case.
The Crime Branch police on Wednesday issued a fresh notice to Sudhakaran, directing him to appear before investigators on June 23 in the Monson Mavunkal fraud case. He was initially asked to present himself at the Crime Branch Office at Kalamassery in Ernakulam on Wednesday, June 14.
Sudhakaran submits that the notice had been issued to him after a lapse of 19 months after the registration of the crime, and that it prima facie appears that the notice is for 'extraneous reasons and political compulsions'.
"It is reasonably learnt that the complaint was filed way back in 2018 by the de-facto complainant. However, it appears that the FIR was registered only in 2021. However, it appears that the FIR was registered only in 2021. It is pertinent to re-iterate that there is no indication/allegation against the Petitioner. More importantly, there were occasions earlier where attempts were made to drag the Petitioner to the present controversies. Be that as it may, the Petitioner has not contacted or attempted to influence or hampered any evidence with respect to the investigation undertaken in the present case. The petitioner severely apprehends that the issuance of notice is a ploy to drag the Petitioner into this controversy and tarnish the social image of the Petitioner including his years of service as a public servant. It is believed that the Petitioner is being targeted due to desperate acts of political rivals," the plea states.
Sudhakaran denies links
Sudhakaran denied having links with the Mavunkal's fraudulent acts. The Congress leader said on Tuesday that he was studying the case to know how he could be arraigned as an accused.
The complainants alleged that Monson, the fake antique dealer, convinced them that the central government had withheld his Rs 2.62 lakh crore raised by selling antiques to a royal family in the Middle East.
Mavunkal, it was alleged, took Rs 10 crore from them on the pretext of eliminating the hindrances in withdrawing his money from the bank. The complainants further alleged that Sudhakaran assured them that he would clear the hurdles in withdrawing the money by exerting his power as a member of Parliament's permanent committee on finance.
Based on his assurance, the complainants reportedly gave Mavunkal Rs 25 lakh. They also alleged that Sudhakaran took Rs 10 lakh from the total amount.
The complainant told the Crime Branch that they were convinced that Mavunkal had lied to them about the Rs 2.62 lakh crore caught in a legal tangle. Based on their revelation, the Crime Branch received legal advice to register a case against Sudhakaran.
(With LiveLaw inputs.)
