G Lakshman is seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in a cheating case connected to controversial antique dealer Monson Mavunkal.
Published Jul 30, 2023 | 2:18 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 30, 2023 | 2:19 PM
G Lakshman IPS. (Facebook)
Inspector General (IG) of Kerala Police G Lakshman has moved the high court with a plea to quash an FIR registered against him in a cheating case and claimed an “extra-constitutional authority” in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) was mediating financial dealings in the state.
Lakshman moved the high court on Saturday, 29 July, seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in a cheating case connected to controversial antique dealer Monson Mavunkal.
In his plea, the senior police officer claimed that he was named as an accused without any incriminating evidence.
Lakshman also claimed that there was an “extra-constitutional authority” functioning in the CMO that dealt with compromising, mediating, and arbitrating some of the financial dealings in Kerala.
“Even the disputes sent by the Hon’ble court to various arbitrators were resolved by that authority. That invisible hand and extra-constitutional brain are operating behind the curtain and commanding the second respondent (investigating officer in Monson Mavunkal case) for doing this kind of illegal activities,” the plea said.
The IG is charged with various offences punishable under Sections 468 (forgery) and 420 (cheating) — among other provisions — of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Lakshman claimed that his name was not there in the initial case or the petitions filed before Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by the victims in the case.
He added that the case was registered on 23 September, 2021, and he was implicated as the third accused on 14 June, 2023.
“Arraying the petitioner as an accused after 22 months of the registration of the crime without a piece of incriminating material is nothing but abuse of process of law,” Lakshman said.
Mavunkal, who claimed to have rare and historic antiques, was arrested by the Alappuzha crime branch police on 25 September, 2021.
He has been accused of cheating several people to the tune of ₹10 crore. He has been in jail since his arrest.
The 53-year-old man pretended to be a multi-talented personality, playing roles such as a public speaker, doctor, cosmetologist, art promoter, and antique collector.
His ability to pass off an ordinary walking stick as the staff of Moses and small earthen pots made on the outskirts of Kochi as Lord Krishna’s favourite dahi handis are now part of contemporary folklore.
The quack-cum-antique dealer even sold a decorated chair as the throne of Tipu Sultan.
On 17 June this year, Mavunkal was sentenced to life imprisonment for repeatedly raping a 17-year-old girl.
The case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act dated back to 2019, when Mavunkal promised his maid’s daughter he would fund her higher education and raped the girl on several occasions at his rented residence in Ernakulam.
He was booked under IPC sections 376(2)(n) (commits rape repeatedly on the same woman) and 376(2)(f) (being a relative, guardian, or teacher of, or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the woman, commits rape on such woman).
He was given rigorous imprisonment for life under various sections of the POCSO Act.
The Additional District and Sessions Court (POCSO) in Ernakulam also slapped a fine of ₹5.25 lakh on the Cherthala native.
Several women had accused Mavunkal of sexually assaulting them. The Kerala High Court, in July 2022, dismissed Mavunkal’s bail petition, citing the accused may influence the victims if released.
Last year, the Supreme Court, too, had denied him bail, stating that the allegations were serious in nature.
(With PTI inputs)
