KOCHI: Former police chief and Kochi Metro MD Lokanath Behra has gone on leave soon after the allegation of his close ties with fraudster Monson Mavunkal cropped up. He explained that he is taking leave for his wife’s treatment. It is heard that he did not come to office after the allegation of his ties with Monson surfaced. Behra last visited the office on Friday. The demand was strong to keep him away from the job till the investigation in the case on Monson controversy ends.

The pictures of Behra and ADGP Manoj Abraham sitting in Monson’s house were circulated on social media. It was later revealed that Behra had directed the police to keep the beat box at Monson's house. Beat boxes are not usually kept in the houses of individuals. The police had removed it when it stoked a controversy.