VS seeks CBI probe in Ice Cream Parlour case

KOCHI: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan has approached the Kerala High Court seeking a CBI probe into the new revelations in the sensational ice cream parlour case.In a petition filed before the court on Friday, V S Achuthanandan alleged that the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the case has not progressed much.K A Rauf, brother-in-law of Industries Minister P K Kunhalikkutty, held a press conference on January 28 at Kozhikode and disclosed that the witnesses and judicial officers were influenced by giving money and other pecuniary advantages to save Kunhalikkuty in the ice cream parlour case, the petitioner said.On the basis of the disclosure, the Kozhikode Town Police registered a case on January 30 with Kunhalikkutty and Rauf as the first and second accused respectively. The confession by Rauf was recorded before the magistrate. On February 3, the SIT was constituted for investigating the case.The petitioner pointed out that investigation in the case is in a frozen state for the last seven months, because Kunhalikkutty is now a Cabinet Minister and has enough clout in the government, so that the investigation will proceed the way he wants. It is essential that the investigation of the case should be handed over to the CBI, the petition said.“The two accused hatched a criminal conspiracy to influence witnesses, prosecutors, social workers and judicial officers by offering money. This was done to save Kunhalikkutty from a possible prosecution and conviction in the case,” the petition said.It further added that a statement by Rauf before the magistrate reveals that Kunhalikkutty used money to influence the  witnesses. Achuthanandan further added that Jacob Punnose, who is the Police Chief of the state, had earlier filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court stating that no case was made out against any person other than the 16 accused who were already named in the case. So the police will find it difficult to proceed with the investigation.The petitioner says the statement by Rauf cannot be brushed aside lightly. In pursuance of the conspiracy Rs 2,65,000 and Rs 3 lakh respectively were paid to prime witnesses Regina and Rajula for turning hostile while deposing in the ice cream parlour case.Rauf deposed before the magistrate that a flat was given to Rejina by Kunhalikkutty. On selling the flat a house was purchased in the name of Pradeep, husband of Rejina, the petition said.