Kerala Congress Chief Sudhakaran Moves HC Seeking Anticipatory Bail After Crime Branch Summons Over Links To Fraud Antique Dealer Monson Mavunkal

Fearing a possible arrest by the state crime branch in a fraud case involving fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal, Kerala Congress President K Sudhakaran today (June 15) moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

Sudhakaran is the second accused in the case.

The Crime Branch police on Wednesday (June 14) issued a fresh notice to Sudhakaran, directing him to appear before investigators on June 23 as part of an ongoing investigation into the fraud case.

In September 2021, the Crime Branch arrested Mavunkal for allegedly cheating people by selling fake antiques. Mavunkal reportedely duped his clients by boasting that his collection included a staff of Moses, two of the 30 silver coins taken by Judas and the throne of Tipu Sultan. Several influential persons, including politicians, film stars and top cops, are said to be victims of his fraud.

The Kerala Crime Branch Police began investigating the case after complainants alleged that Makunal, a fake antique dealer, defrauded them after convincing 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.

The complainants alleged that Mavunkal swindled Rs 10 crore from them on the pretext of eliminating regulatory hurdles to withdrawing his money from the bank.

The complainants also alleged that they handed over Rs 25 lakh to Mavunkal in the presence of Sudhakaran on November 22, 2018. The complainants said Mavunkal claimed to be a cosmetologist and even treated Sudhakaran. They alleged that Sudhakaran assured them that he would help Mavunkal clear the legal hurdles in withdrawing the money by exercising his influence as a member of parliament.

In September 2021, a photograph of Sudhakaran and KPCC vice-president Laly Vincent in conversation with Mavunkal went viral on social media.

While Sudhakaran admits to meeting Mavunkal on five occasions to seek treatment, he has denied having any financial dealings with Mavunkal.

“I had met him after he posed as a doctor and talked about a treatment. When I visited his house, he had shown me his antique collection and said its cost would run into crores of rupees,” Sudhakaran said, responding to allegations of close ties to the conman.

Pictures of Mavunkal with many senior officers in the state police, including former police chief Lokanath Behera, ADGP Manoj Abraham and former IG G Lakshman, have emerged over the years.

Last week, the Crime Branch submitted its report to the Ernakulam ACJM court, accusing Sudhakaran as second accused in the case.