CBI arrests KPCC chief Sudhakaran, released on bail in cheating case

The controversial antique merchant Monson Mavunkal is the main culprit in a cheating case in which KPCC leader K Sudhakaran was detained by the Crime Branch on Friday and later freed on bail.

Later, Sudhakaran told the reporters that he was detained by the Crime Branch following many hours of questioning.

“They questioned me. After that, they recorded my arrest and then I was released on bail. I have faith in judiciary. I will face the case in court,” he told reporters here.

The national leadership of the Congress sharply criticised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after Sudhakaran was arrested, stating that he shares Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authoritarian mentality of imprisoning anyone who oppose his government.

Later that evening, members of the Congress and Youth Congress came to the streets in several parts of the state to block roads in protest at Sudhakaran’s detention.

On TV, protest images showed party members blocking streets, torching Vijayan effigies, and organising marches around the state.

After being granted bail, Sudhakaran stated that he was very certain that the police did not have any evidence against him that would warrant punishment. He was surrounded by several party officials and members at the time.

“I am not afraid. I am not going to hide anywhere,” he said.

The KPCC chairman denied any connections to Mavunkal when questioned about him. Along with the Congress’ national leadership, key party officials in Kerala also slammed Sudhakaran’s detention and called it a political conspiracy.

Before heading for the Crime Branch office here earlier in the day, Sudhakaran told the media that his conscience was clear and that he had done nothing improper or unlawful, therefore he had no reason to be afraid of anyone or anything.

“I know what I did and did not do. My conscience tells me I have done no wrong. I have not misused anyone. I have not accepted bribes from anyone. In my life and politics, I am a politician who has never accepted a bribe. It is political ethics. Therefore, I do not need to fear anyone,” the KPCC chief further said.

M. V. Govindan, the state secretary of the CPI(M), told reporters in Delhi during the day that his condemnation of Sudhakaran in connection with a POCSO case was based on a news report and that he would hold to that position unless fresh evidence to the contrary surfaced.

“Let it be investigated, that is what I had said,” he said.

According to a claim from Govindan’s party mouthpiece, “Deshabhimani,” the child rape victim told the Crime Branch that Sudhakaran was present at one of the locations where she was raped by Mavunkal. Govindan says that as a result, the special wing might interrogate the KPCC chief.

According to the Kerala High Court’s order for Sudhakaran to appear before the Crime Branch on June 23, if he were to be arrested in connection with the cheating case, he would be released on bail after posting a bond for Rs 50,000 with two sureties of the same amount.

The decision was made in response to Sudhakaran’s anticipatory bail application, which he submitted after being summoned to appear by the Crime Branch, that is investigating the cheating case.

The Crime Branch decided to question the KPCC president after receiving a statement from complainants who lost money in the cheating case, according to which they provided money to Mavunkal while Sudhakaran was there.