K. Sudhakaran Moves Kerala High Court Seeking Anticipatory Bail For Alleged Involvement In Monson Mavunkal Cheating Case

An anticipatory bail plea has been moved in the Kerala High Court by the Member of Parliament and President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, K. Sudhakaran, in respect of his alleged involvement in the cheating case involving the controversial antique dealer Monson Mavunkal. 

The cheating case against Mavunkal was registered on September 23, 2021, on the complaint of certain persons alleging cheating of Rs. 10 Crores on the false promise to return the amount. It was also alleged that the accused had deceived the complainants by showing them false statements on his account. 

The Crime Branch, on June 10, 2023, issued a notice to Sudhakaran stating that they had received certain 'credible information' and had 'reasonable suspicion' regarding his involvement in the said crime. Sudhakaran was thereby requested to appear before the Deputy Superintendent of Police (2nd respondent) on June 14, 2023. However, the petitioner avers that he had certain pre-arranged priorities and consultations due to which he was unable to do so. He claims he had informed the authority of the same vide a letter dated June 13, 2023, and even sought another date to appear. 

The petitioner submits that there is no allegation of his complicity in the FIR. He avers that he had not committed any forgery, nor had he aided anyone to commit the same. Additionally, he also submits that he had not fraudulently or dishonestly induced anyone to deliver any property with an intention to cause damage. 

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. 

It is thus, on apprehension of his arrest in the case that Sudhakaran has approached the Court seeking anticipatory bail. 

The plea has been moved through Advocates Mathew A. Kuzhalnadan, Kuriakose Varghese, V. Shyamohan, Sradhaxna Mudrika, and George J. Nalappat. 

Case Title: K. Sudhakaran v. State of Kerala & Anr.