Police tightens noose on Monson after harshly criticized by HC, using new tactic to trap fraudster

KOCHI: The police have tightened noose to trap Monson Mavunkal, the antique fraudster. The police team investigating the antiquities fraud case has been expanded. The DGP issued the order adding ten more officers to the team including the Kochi Cyber Station SHO. The investigation team will examine the phone call records and the social media campaign in detail. A total of five cases, including antiques fraud, have been filed against Monson so far. The Kerala High Court had the other day strongly criticized the police in a case related to Monson. Following this, the police have strengthened their investigation.

Meantime, the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court will consider Monson's bail plea in the Beenachi estate land fraud case in Wayanad today. The crime branch arrested Monson in a case of swindling Rs 1.62 crore from Rajiv Sreedhar, a native of Pala Meenachil, on the promise of leasing 500 acres of land on an estate owned by the Madhya Pradesh government. The crime branch told the court that Monson obtained the money through the accounts of four of his employees for land dealings and his benami transactions in the land deal are being probed.

Monson snatched Rs 2 crore from Malayalees in Bengaluru, partners of Kalinga Kalyan Foundation, mainly used for the fraud. The police believe that it was just a paper organization created for the fraud. The investigation is progressing in that level.

The high court asked yesterday how the state police's investigation into the Rs 10 crore fraud case against Monson Mavunkal, who had befriended high ranking officials and secured protection through them, could be trusted. The court also directed the DGP to clarify whether the case need investigated by the police. Justice Devan Ramachandran asked the DGP to submit an affidavit including the details of the investigation so far. The court verbally said only God knows if there are international connections in this case.