Sex scandal: Achuthanandan's plea for CBI probe dismissed

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The Kerala High Court Tuesday dismissed Leader of Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan's plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Kozhikode ice cream parlour sex case, allegedly involving state minister P.K. Kunhalikutty.

The court had earlier this month asked Kerala Police to submit their case diary and investigation report in the sex scandal that dates back to the early '90s and allegedly involves Kunhalikutty, an Indian Union Muslim League leader.

After going through the police documents, the court found that the investigation was going on smoothly and hence dismissed the petition of Achuthanandan, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former chief minister.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice J. Chelameswar asked the special investigation team to complete the probe, to be monitored by the high court from now, within three months.

Achuthanandan as chief minister ordered a fresh inquiry in the wake of fresh revelations. Even after almost seven months, the investigations have not reached anywhere, Achuthanandan's counsel argued.

So far, 81 witnesses have been examined and even with a change in the government, the investigation team appointed by the Achuthanandan government has not been changed, the court noted.

The case of sexual abuse of a minor girl, allegedly involving Kunhalikutty, now the Kerala industry minister, was closed by the courts in 2006. It allegedly involved an ice cream parlour in Kozhikode as its base and was named the "ice cream parlour sex case" by the media.

Rauf, whose wife is the sister of Kunhalikutty's wife, made the allegations against Kunhalikutty in January.

Achuthanandan ordered Additional Director General of Police Vinson M. Paul to begin the new inquiry.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front defeated the Left Democratic Front in the April assembly polls.