Kunhalikutty bought sex scandal victim’s silence, claims kin

KOZHIKODE - Making more allegations against Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P.K.Kunhalikutty, his close relative Monday said the leader was also involved in the Kothamangalam sex scandal in 1997 but got away by offering money to the victim.

K.A.Rauf, a close relative of Kunhalikutty (their wives are sisters), also claimed that the former minister had blackmailed the late IUML supremo Pannakad Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal - a claim the supremo’s son and successor has rejected.

“Kunhalikuttys name had surfaced in this (Kothamangalam) sex scandal case too, but he got away by giving Rs.1.5 million to the victim. That money was paid to the victim by his close associate Sheriff,” Rauf claimed, talking to reporters here.

Last month, Rauf alleged Kunhalikutty got away in the infamous Kozhikode ice cream parlour sex scandal case by paying money to the victim.

Regarding the Kothamanglam scam, Rauf said Kunhalikutty had also attempted to influence the priest of the prayer centre where the victim used to go.”

“To see that he gets away in the Kothamangalam sex case, he went to the Christian Prayer Centre in Potta (near Thrissur). I was also with him at that time. He met Fr.Pannakal and had a closed door session for 15 minutes after which he asked me to give a packet to the priest, said Rauf.

Rauf said that Kunhalikutty had blackmailed the late Pannakad Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal and this is known to one of his sons.

“If given a chance, I will hand over the details of the blackmail to present IUML supremo Haider Ali Shihab Thangal. If he is not willing to hear me, then I will pass it on to some of the other top IUML leaders,” he said.

In his reaction, Haider Ali told reporters in Malappuram that Raufs statement is “baseless”.

“This is a baseless allegation and one which deserves no reply at all,” he said.