Monson Mavunkal Moves Kerala High Court Seeking Bail In Sexual Assault Case

Infamous fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal has approached the Kerala High Court seeking bail in the case where a woman has accused him of sexually abusing her.

Justice Gopinath P. on Monday directed the Public Prosecutor to get instructions in the matter and posted it to February 15.

According to the FIR filed by the woman, a nurse, she was raped with the threat that otherwise her brother will be implicated in an NDPS case in the first week of May 2018. 

The woman added that this continued till June 2019. Thereafter, she gave a statement on 27 October 2021 to the police and a crime was registered against him.

Soon he was arrested on 6th November 2021 and remanded to judicial custody.

According to Mavunkal, the woman was anxious of being implicated as a co-accused in various financial crimes and this prompted her to turn against him. He added that the statement was allegedly dictated by the police officers themselves. 

The accused has also pointed out that the woman is a married woman with children who is estranged from her husband. 

In his application, Mavunkal has questioned the undue delay in filing the case, claiming to be proof that it is a false story. 

He has further alleged that the police was highly interested in the case and was prejudiced against him. The plea also contends that money, politics, and police force are invested to throw him behind bars. 

He also pointed out that in most of the financial crimes, he has been granted bail, thereby proving that this sexual assault case was nothing but a result of clear manipulation. 

Mavunkal has claimed that his family is devasted; he argued that his daughter's marriage has been called off after he was arrested on the same day. It was further submitted that a final report in the matter has been filed. 

On these grounds, Mavunkal pressed that the application be allowed and he be released on bail. 

Notably, a Sessions Court had dismissed Mavunkal's bail application finding that the records of the protection prima facie show his involvement in the said offences. 

The trial court also recorded in its order that not only are these allegations grave but Mavunkal is reportedly involved in several crimes of similar nature. 

Additionally, the trial court had found merit in the prosecution's apprehension that since the man is highly influential, he could influence the witnesses, or even abscond.  

Case Title: Monson Mavunkal v. State of Kerala & Anr.