KOCHI: The Kerala High Court granted an interim anticipatory bail to KPCC chief K Sudhakaran in the fake antiquities’ financial fraud case in which Monson Mavunkal is the main accused. Justice Ziyad Rahman ordered bail on a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties for the same amount in case of his arrest. Former IG Lakshmana has also been granted interim anticipatory bail.

While considering the anticipatory bail plea, Sudhakaran submitted the photographs of DGP Anil Kant, former DGP Loknath Behra and ADGP Manoj Abraham with Monson Mavunkal in the court. Sudhakaran informed the court that they were regular visitors to Monson's house.

The crime branch was all set to arrest Sudhakaran if the court had rejected his anticipatory bail plea. Sudhakaran is the second accused in the fraud case in which Monson is the main accused. The main witness is the person who gave a confidential statement in the case. He said that he had seen Sudhakaran accepting money from Monson’s house on that day. The crime branch also received evidence of Monson going to Delhi with this witness. Sudhakaran was summoned for interrogation but failed to appear.

Anoop, one of the complainants, had stated that he paid Rs 25 lakh to Monson at Sudhakaran’s mediation. Monson's former driver Ajith and employees Jaison and Joshi stated that they saw Monson handing over Rs 10 lakh to Sudhakaran immediately after Anoop left the place.

Monson said that he doesn't accept money directly
Monson Mavunkal had told the crime branch that he doesn’t accept money directly from anyone. However, when the crime branch officials showed the visuals of accepting money, he retracted his statement and said that he does not remember. He was questioned for hours in the jail by a team led by DySP Y R Rastham in Viyyur Jail. When asked him whether he had given money to K Sudhakaran, he said that he does not remember. In an investigation conducted by the crime branch earlier in the antiques case, it was found that Monson does not receive money via his account. Though accepts crores from many, there will be only a minimum amount in his account.