"Though we do not see any reason at this juncture to opine that the investigation is not progressing, we deem it appropriate that the progress of the case is required to be monitored by this court," a division bench comprising Chief Justice J Chelemeswar and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon said adjourning Achuthanandan's petition to December 22.
The bench pointed out that Advocate General K P Dhandapani had submitted that the case would be completed in the next 90 days and the final report would be filed before the appropriate court. K A Rauf, brother-in-law of Kunhalikutty, who fell from his favour, had alleged that judicial process in case had been tampered. The Special Investigation Team in the case was appointed when Achuthanandan was Chief Minister.
Of the 85 witnesses examined in the case, 47 were questioned while the petitioner was the chief minister and the rest after he demitted office, the court was pointed out. Similarly, 56 documents were seized in connection with the crime of which 33 were seized during petitioner's incumbency in the office. The AG has also pointed out that none of the SIT officers had been changed after the new government assumed office.
According to Achuthanandan, during the last seven months, no investigation was done in the case registered on the basis of the statements by Rauf. Rauf had told media personnel in Kozhikode few months ago that Kunhalikutty had used money power and him (Rauf) to influence witnesses, prosecutors, social workers and judicial officers to escape from the case.
The sex scandal had rocked Kerala in the late 1990s when it came to light that an ice cream parlour in Kozhikode was being used to lure women into prostitution. There were allegations about Kunhalikutty's involvement in the case, but he did not figure as accused in the case.
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