Links with Monson Mavunkal; IG Lakshman's suspension extended by three months

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The suspension of IG Gokulath Lakshman, who was suspended for having links with antiques fraud case accused Monson Mavunkal, has been extended by three months. The intelligence ADGP had informed the government that six more months would be required to complete the investigation against Lakshman. Following which, the suspension re-evaluation committee assessed that it will not be right to reinstate the officer while the investigation is underway. As part of this, the government accepted the committee’s recommendation to extend the suspension by 90 days. The suspension period will end on August 10.

After handing over the case registered by the Cherthala police against Monson to the crime branch, the records of Lakshman’s intervention to hand over the investigation to the local police had surfaced earlier. The video and audio footage of Monson seeking Lakshman’s help to settle the case had also come out. Lakshman, a 1997-batch IPS officer, was suspended while serving as the IG in charge of social policing and traffic. He was supposed to take up the post of ADGP in January and has a service tenure till 2033.