Complicity in fake antiquities fraud: Suspended IG Lakshman to be promoted!

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is a hasty move to reinstate IG Guguloth Lakshman, who was suspended for trying to help fraudster and fake antiquity dealer Monson Mavunkal through middlemen, and promote him as ADGP. A committee headed by Chief Secretary V.P.Joy and consisting of Additional Chief Secretaries Dr Asha Thomas, V Venu and Principal Secretary K R Jyothilal has been appointed to review the suspension of Lakshman. Lakshman, who was under suspension, was not considered when the 1997-batch IPS officers were made ADGPs.

IG Lakshman was suspended in November last year after the crime branch informed the chief minister with digital evidence that he had protected the fraudster using the powers of police. The investigation revealed that the IG had been in contact with Monson for three years and had used security personnel for Monson's antiquities trade. With high-level intervention, Lakshman was not made an accused in the case. A departmental inquiry was also not initiated. The crime branch, which initially said that there was strong evidence against the IG such as his phone records and bank transactions, later took the position that there was no evidence following the intervention of the high level.