Kerala sex racket case 'hushed up'

K A Rauf, husband of P K Kunhalikutty’s wife’s sister has alleged that the case was manipulated and hushed up at various levels including courts which delivered favourable court verdicts. The sex racket case involved an icecream parlour which became a front for flesh trade and teenaged girls were exploited by several influential people. Though Kunhalikutty was alleged to be one of them, the Supreme Court cleared him.

Rauf alleged in Kozhikode that he himself had delivered Rs 2.65 lakh to Regina, one of the victims, to change her statement that Kunhalikutty was involved. Another victim was given Rs 3.15 lakh, he alleged. According to him, Kunhalikutty had given lakhs of rupees to both girls whenever they have been demanding it.

Kunhalikutty had to resign as industry minister in 2003 after coming under the cloud of allegations in connection with the scandal. It was reported that Kunhalikutty had been depending on the support of Rouf during his troubled times.

On a day of high drama, it was a red-faced Kunhalikutty who fired the first salvo by alleging at a news conference in Malappuram that Rauf had deputed a Mangalore gang to finish him off.

Later, replying to Rauf’s allegations, Kunhalikutty called a second news meet at Kozhikode where he portrayed him as a person having criminal background. “He was just released after a three-month jail term and has got cases of anti-national activity against him in Maharashtra and Goa. He is a known forgerer, extortionist and arsonist. His main activity is to set rubber factories afire because he trades in artificial rubber,” he said.
Will do needful: CM

Reacting to the developments, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan who had led a campaign against Kunhalikutty said:  “Law will catch up with all criminals at some point. We will do the needful including ordering a reinvestigation in the case after we watch all further developments.”