Court raps Kerala police for ignoring fake antique racket

Conman’s residence was even accorded police protection

Hours after the Congress-led opposition took on chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the Kerala Assembly over the way the state police had handled the case related to arrested fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal for the past two years, the Kerala High Court yesterday slammed the police for the way they have managed the case so far.

Hearing a petition filed by Ajith, the former driver of Mavunkal who’s seeking police protection, Justice Devan Ramachandran slammed the way the police have handled the case and expressed doubts if the current probe would reach any conclusion as even the serving police officers are under cloud.

It is now known that the Kerala Police for a while provided security to the residence of Mavunkal in Cherthala, which is more like an antique museum, as well as in Kochi.

Mavunkal was arrested last month by the Crime Branch after six people accused him of cheating to the tune of over Rs 60 million (Dh2.96m). Justice Ramachandran said it was really surprising that the police, who had seen his possessions never even cared to think about their legality.