Two judges helped Kunhalikutty in sex scandal case, alleges relative

KOZHIKODE - Two former high court judges helped Kerala’s former industry minister and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P.K. Kunhalikutty in the Kozhikode ice cream parlour sex scandal case, the leader’s relative alleged Tuesday.

K.A. Rauf, close relative of Kunhalikutty (their wives are sisters), who blew the lid off in the case last week, named two former judges Narayana Kurup and K. Thankappan, who, he alleged, were instrumental in making the case favourable for the ex-minister.

Thankappan denied the allegation Tuesday and said he will take legal action against Rauf.

“It was through former additional director general of prosecution K.C. Peter that the money for Kurup was handed over to the judge’s son-in-law Sunny. I was present during that time when the money was handed over,” claimed Rauf.

Regarding the involvement of justice Thankappan, Rauf said that it was through the help of an additional advocate general that the judge was influenced.

The case of sexual abuse of a minor girl, which involved Kunhalikutty, was closed by the courts in 2006, including the apex court of the country.

The alleged sex racket in early 1990s used an ice cream parlour in Kozhikode as its base, giving the scandal its name.

“Kunhalikutty had physical relations with two of the five women in the ice cream parlous sex scandal case,” Rauf stressed.

Answering the question on how could someone influence the Supreme Court, Rauf shot back saying that “by the time the case reached the apex court, it had become weak because by then everything was diluted to his advantage”.

Reacting to the allegation, Thankapan said that he went through the case only on the basis of its facts.

“I have no relation with Rauf nor Peter. I will take up this issue legally for raising baseless allegations against me,” said Thankapan.

The IUML, in an emergency meeting held Monday, dismissed the resurfacing of the case as nothing but an attempt to malign the party ahead of the assembly polls.

The case once again hit the headlines last Friday when Kunhalikutty said he faced threat on his life from Rauf and that he suspected a forged CD was to be released soon.

Soon afterwards Rauf held a press conference and gave vague hints on how the judiciary was involved in wiping out the case.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan have expressed the desire for a re-investigation into the case.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, state Law Minister M. Vijayakumar said the cabinet will discuss the issue Wednesday.

“The cabinet will decide on what is to be done with regards to the need for a re-investigation,” he said.

Leader of opposition Oommen Chandy hit back at the Communist Party of India-Marxist saying it is strange that the CPI-M is raking up a 15-year-old case at the fag end of their five-year term.

The CPI-M is playing this issue cautiously as the name of P. Sasi, a party heavyweight and former political secretary to ex-chief minister E.K. Nayanar, has come up in the case.