Conman and self-styled antiques dealer Monson Mavunkal has been found guilty in a POCSO case, which was filed against him by his former maid. In September 2021, a cheating case was registered against Mavunkal in Kerala, with complainants alleging that he defrauded six individuals of Rs 10 crore.
The cheating case became a major controversy in the state when images of Mavunkal with politicians—including Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President K. Sudhakaran—actors and top police officials surfaced. Since his arrest on September 26, 2021, the state crime branch has registered a total of 10 cases. So far, charge-sheets have been filed in four cases, including one involving the POCSO offence. The investigation is currently ongoing for the remaining six cases.
On Saturday, a POCSO special court in Ernakulam found Mavunkal guilty of sexually abusing the minor daughter of his former maid. The quantum pf punishment will be announced later The incidents of sexual harassment occurred when the victim was 17 years old, and Mavunkal abused her with promises of providing educational support. As stated in the charge-sheet filed by the investigating officer, DySP Y.R. Rustom, Mavunkal repeatedly raped the minor girl in 2019. Additionally, there is a separate case against Mavunkal for raping the same individual after she reached adulthood.
Last year, the Supreme Court denied Mavunkal's request for bail in the POCSO case.
Earlier this month, the crime branch issued a notice to Congress leader Sudhakaran regarding his alleged involvement in the fake antiques cheating case in which Mavunkal is the first accused. According to the agency, there is credible information pointing to his role in the matter. The Congress party maintains that Sudhakaran's inclusion as the second accused in the cheating case is the result of a political vendetta orchestrated by the ruling CPI(M). The agency had initially instructed Sudhakaran to appear before the investigating officer on June 14. However, he did not attend, citing pre-arranged party commitments. The Kerala High Court on June 16 directed the CB not to take any coercive action against the Congress leader till June 21. Sudhakaran, who denies any involvement in the alleged frauds committed by Mavunkal, has now received a new summons from the crime branch. He has been directed to present himself before the investigators on June 23.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is actively probing the involvement of illicit funds in the antique-fraud case. The ED's probe gained further momentum recently with the recording of confidential statements of Mavunkal's former employees. Reports indicate the ED has obtained a diary containing detailed information about Mavunkal's financial transactions.
