Sex scandal case review plan a conspiracy: E. Ahamed

KOZHIKODE - Even as the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Kerala government examines if a re-investigation is required in the Kozhikode ice cream parlour sex scandal case, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) Monday dubbed the move as a conspiracy to malign the party.

The case of sexual abuse of a minor girl, which involved former state industry minister and IUML leader P.K. Kunhalikutty, was closed by the courts in 2006.

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

Addressing reporters here after a party meeting, IUML national president and union Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed said the Left government’s plan for a rethink on the case was nothing but a conspiracy hatched by vested interests against the party and general secretary Kunhalikutty.

“We will bring out the truth behind the conspiracy,” said Ahamed.

The case hit the headlines after India Vision TV channel showed documents and visuals on how the case was closed through allegedly influencing two former judges of the Kerala High Court.

Former state minister and IUML secretary M.K. Muneer is the chairman of India Vision channel.

Addressing reporters ahead of his party’s meeting, Muneer said that the post he held in the channel was a decorative one and he had no clue about the editorial content of the news channel.

Muneer’s relations with Kunhalikutty have been strained ever since reports on the case were telecast on the channel in 2004.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the need of the hour was that a panel of judges either from the high court or the Supreme Court inquire into the reports that two former judges allegedly played a crucial role in winding up the case.

Very serious allegations against the former judges have now surfaced and a probe into this has to take place to find out the truth, said Balakrishnan.

Lok Sabha member and senior IUML leader E.T. Mohammed Basheer said the documents and the visuals that appeared in the media were fudged and doctored.

Kunhalikutty was engaged in a war of words with his relative K.A. Rauf - who is married to the sister of the former’s wife - over the scandal.

Kunhalikutty, a witness in the case, had to step down as minister in January 2005 following an opposition onslaught and a series of media reports after the girl repeatedly made the allegations.