Debangana Ray
Published on July 14, 2022 at 18:58 IST
The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed the bail applications moved by infamous fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal in a batch of cases where several women have accused him of sexually abusing them.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas dismissed the bail application finding find force in the contention of the prosecution that there is a possibility that he may influence the witnesses if released on bail.
“Taking into consideration the nature of crime alleged to have been committed and the surrounding circumstances, I am of the view that this is not a fit case where the petitioner can be released on bail.”
The petitioner is admittedly involved in various crimes, including three cases of rape. The trial of one case under Section 376 IPC coupled with the offence under the POCSO Act for having raped a minor is already underway.
According to the FIR filed by one of the women, a nurse, she was raped with the threat that otherwise her brother will be implicated in an NDPS case in the first week of May 2018.
According to Mavunkal, the woman was anxious of being implicated as a co-accused in various financial crimes and this prompted her to turn against him.
In his application, Mavunkal has questioned the undue delay in filing the case, claiming to be proof that it is a false story.
He has further alleged that the police was highly interested in the case and was prejudiced against him. The plea also contends that money, politics,and the police force are invested to throw him behind bars.
He also submitted that in most of the financial crimes, he has been granted bail, thereby proving that this sexual assault case was nothing but a result of clear manipulation.
Mavunkal has claimed that his family is devastated; he argued that his daughter’s marriage has been called off after he was arrested.
It was further submitted that a final report on the matter has been filed. On these grounds, Mavunkal pressed that the application be allowed and he be released on bail.
Notably, a Sessions Court had dismissed Mavunkal’s bail application finding that the records prima facie show his involvement in in the said offences.
The trial court also recorded in its order that not only are these allegations grave but Mavunkal is reportedly involved in several crimes of similar nature.
Additionally, the trial court had found merit in the prosecution’s apprehension that since the man is highly influential, he could influence the witnesses, or even abscond.
