UDF raises antique dealer case in Kerala Assembly

The opposition UDF on Tuesday tried to corner the Left government and its police force in the Kerala Assembly over a high profile cheating case involving a self-styled antique dealer even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rejected their charges saying the investigation in the case was progressing in the right direction.

The Congress-led opposition alleged that the antique dealer Monson Mavunkal, who was arrested recently, had tried to dupe people regarding the rituals at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple using a fabricated 'chembola' (a copper manuscript) and the Marxist party government also had a role in it.

Raising the controversial issue during the the zero hour seeking a notice for an adjournment motion, they also accused former DGP Loknath Behera, a close confidant of Vijayan, for having connections with Mavunkal.

The photos of the retired police chief, sitting on the ''throne of Tipu Sultan'' along with senior IPS officer and ADGP Manoj Abraham holding an ''antique'' sword at the accused's house, were widely circulated on social media platforms putting the Vijayan government in a fix. They also pointed fingers at Behera for allegedly granting police protection to the fake antique dealer despite an intelligence report against him.

However, rejecting the charges, the CM said the government had received a complaint against Mavunkal, who was accused of fraudulently amassing crores of rupees by fabricating and displaying fake articles in the name of antiques, early last month and arrested him with ''concrete'' evidence on September 25.

Strongly defending Behera, he said it was natural for people to visit a place, where antiques were believed to be kept.

Based on the intelligence report, the then police chief had submitted a letter to the Enforcement Directorate regarding the accused, he said adding that it was natural for the police to pay special attention to the area if a person sought protection for his life and property.

''The allegation that the government had tried to deceive people by fabricating the chembola regarding the rituals at Sabarimala is baseless. Since all such matters are coming under the purview of the inquiry, no further details can be divulged right now,'' Vijayan said.

As part of the ongoing Crime Branch investigation, a letter has been given to the the Archaeological Survey of India and the Archaeological Department to probe the antiquity of the articles found in the collection of the accused, he said.

A special investigation team had been formed under the Crime Branch IG for a comprehensive probe, Vijayan added.

However, Congress legislator P T Thomas, who moved a notice for the motion, urged the government to discuss the matter in the Assembly after suspending other businesses.

The Intelligence Department had alerted in 2019 itself that Mavunkal was a fraudster and how could the Chief Minister claim that he did not know about it.

''Behera had ensured police protection to him even after the intelligence report,'' the Thrikkakkara MLA alleged.

Based on the reply of Vijayan, Speaker M B Rajesh rejected notice for the motion.

A native of Cherthala, Mavunkal who claims to be in possession of rare and historic antiques was arrested last week by the Crime Branch wing of the Kerala police probing into complaints against the dealer of having swindled Rs 10 crore from several people.

The victims claimed that they lost Rs 10 crore in their dealings with Mavunkal, who allegedly earned their trust using his ''high profile'' contacts, including politicians, top IPS officers and bureaucrats including a retired chief secretary-rank official.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)