Kochi: Crime Branch (CB) probing the Monson Mavunkal antique cheating case reiterated its claims on KPPC president K Sudhakaran’s involvement.

CB maintains that Sudhakaran received Rs 10 lakhs from Mavunkal and there are confidential witness statements for the same. The quizzing and recording of arrest were over that, said sources. 

According to CB, the complainant Anoop had given Rs 25 lakhs—Rs 15 lakhs towards Mavunkal and 10 lakhs towards Sudhakaran, for getting an antique piece. The duo had given assurance to the complainant, CB said. 

CB further said they will question Abin, Monson’s former employee, who was also an acquaintance of Sudhakaran. There is evidence connecting the trio, CB claimed. 

Sudhakaran was arrested on Friday and later released on bail due to immunity from a Kerala High Court order. 

The Crime Branch had decided to interrogate the KPCC president on the basis of a statement by complainants, who lost their money in the cheating case, claiming they had handed over the money to Mavunkal in the presence of Sudhakaran. 

Earlier, the agency had submitted an additional report before the court, arraigning Sudhakaran as an accused in the case. When the allegations cropped up against him two years ago, Sudhakaran denied them. The issue had snowballed into a political controversy as images of Mavunkal along with Sudhakaran emerged. Sudhakaran had said he had gone to Mavunkal's residence for treatment as the latter claimed to be a trained cosmetologist.

With PTI inputs