<p>A senior Kerala police officer has moved the High Court with a plea to quash an FIR registered against him in a cheating case and claimed an "extra-constitutional authority" in the Chief Minister's Office is mediating financial dealings in the state.</p>.<p>Inspector General of Police G Lakshman moved the Kerala High Court on Saturday seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in a cheating case connected to controversial antique dealer Monson Mavunkal, who was convicted in a rape case recently.</p>.<p>In his plea, the senior police officer claimed that he was arrayed as an accused without any incriminating evidence.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-crime/karnataka-boy-kills-mothers-friend-after-he-discovers-they-grew-close-1241981.html">Karnataka: Boy kills mother's friend after he discovers they grew close</a></strong></p>.<p>Lakshman also claimed that there was an "extra-constitutional authority" functioning in the Chief Minister's Office who deals with compromising, mediating and arbitrating some of the financial dealings in Kerala.</p>.<p>"Even the disputes sent by the Hon'ble court to various arbitrators were resolved by that authority. That invisible hand and extra-constitutional brain is operating behind the curtain and commanding the second respondent (investigating officer in Monson Mavunkal case) for doing this kind of illegal activities," the plea said.</p>.<p>The IG is an accused in various offences punishable under Sections 468 (forgery) and 420 (cheating) among other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).</p>.<p>Lakshman claimed that his name was not there in the initial case or the petitions filed before Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by the victims in the case.</p>.<p>He added that the crime was registered on September 23, 2021 and he was implicated as the third accused on June 14, 2023.</p>.<p>"Arraying the petitioner as an accused after 22 months of the registration of the crime without a piece of incriminating material is nothing but abuse of process of law," Lakshman said.</p>.<p>Monson Mavunkal, who claims to be in possession of rare and historic antiques, was arrested in September 2021 by the district crime branch, which has been probing a case against him of cheating several people of Rs 10 crore.</p>.<p>As soon as he was arrested, photos of the accused with KPCC chief K Sudhakaran, senior IPS officials, top bureaucrats and many others were telecast in the mainstream media.</p>.<p>The complaint against Mavunkal was forwarded to the Ernakulam District Crime Branch from the Chief Minister's Office after six victims approached the Chief Minister.</p>.<p>Mavunkal had apparently borrowed the amount from various people, saying he was in need of funds to "clear procedures to obtain Rs 2,65,000 crore, a massive amount from his account in a foreign bank".</p>.<p>The antique dealer was recently sentenced to life imprisonment till the end of his natural life for repeatedly raping a minor girl a few years ago.</p>
<p>A senior Kerala police officer has moved the High Court with a plea to quash an FIR registered against him in a cheating case and claimed an "extra-constitutional authority" in the Chief Minister's Office is mediating financial dealings in the state.</p>.<p>Inspector General of Police G Lakshman moved the Kerala High Court on Saturday seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in a cheating case connected to controversial antique dealer Monson Mavunkal, who was convicted in a rape case recently.</p>.<p>In his plea, the senior police officer claimed that he was arrayed as an accused without any incriminating evidence.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-crime/karnataka-boy-kills-mothers-friend-after-he-discovers-they-grew-close-1241981.html">Karnataka: Boy kills mother's friend after he discovers they grew close</a></strong></p>.<p>Lakshman also claimed that there was an "extra-constitutional authority" functioning in the Chief Minister's Office who deals with compromising, mediating and arbitrating some of the financial dealings in Kerala.</p>.<p>"Even the disputes sent by the Hon'ble court to various arbitrators were resolved by that authority. That invisible hand and extra-constitutional brain is operating behind the curtain and commanding the second respondent (investigating officer in Monson Mavunkal case) for doing this kind of illegal activities," the plea said.</p>.<p>The IG is an accused in various offences punishable under Sections 468 (forgery) and 420 (cheating) among other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).</p>.<p>Lakshman claimed that his name was not there in the initial case or the petitions filed before Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by the victims in the case.</p>.<p>He added that the crime was registered on September 23, 2021 and he was implicated as the third accused on June 14, 2023.</p>.<p>"Arraying the petitioner as an accused after 22 months of the registration of the crime without a piece of incriminating material is nothing but abuse of process of law," Lakshman said.</p>.<p>Monson Mavunkal, who claims to be in possession of rare and historic antiques, was arrested in September 2021 by the district crime branch, which has been probing a case against him of cheating several people of Rs 10 crore.</p>.<p>As soon as he was arrested, photos of the accused with KPCC chief K Sudhakaran, senior IPS officials, top bureaucrats and many others were telecast in the mainstream media.</p>.<p>The complaint against Mavunkal was forwarded to the Ernakulam District Crime Branch from the Chief Minister's Office after six victims approached the Chief Minister.</p>.<p>Mavunkal had apparently borrowed the amount from various people, saying he was in need of funds to "clear procedures to obtain Rs 2,65,000 crore, a massive amount from his account in a foreign bank".</p>.<p>The antique dealer was recently sentenced to life imprisonment till the end of his natural life for repeatedly raping a minor girl a few years ago.</p>