Kerala High Court has granted interim anticipatory bail to Member of Parliament (MP) and President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, K Sudhakaran, in a cheating case involving fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal. The court order, issued by Justice Ziyad Rahman AA, specifies that Sudhakaran must appear before the Crime Branch for investigation on June 23.

The court clarified that in the event of his arrest, Sudhakaran will be released on bail upon executing a bond of ₹50,000. The interim bail has been imposed for a period of two weeks.

Sudhakaran approached the court, arguing that the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the police in 2021, based on a complaint received in 2018, did not contain any allegations against him. The alleged offences are punishable under Sections 468, 471, and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) relating to forgery, fraud, and cheating.

The petitioner claimed that the notice issued to him under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) after nineteen months of registering the case is an attempt to tarnish his social image. He emphasized his willingness to cooperate with the investigation and stated that custodial interrogation is unnecessary as no substantial evidence has been presented against him.

This development has garnered significant attention due to Sudhakaran's political stature and his long-standing service as a public servant. Further updates on the case are awaited as the investigation progresses.

Case Title: K Sudhakaran v Sate of Kerala & Anr.