KOCHI: The self-styled antique collector Monson Mavunkal, who was arrested on Sunday on charges of cheating and forgery, was sent for three days of custodial interrogation on Tuesday. Additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) court rejected his bail plea and sent him to the custody of the crime branch after the agency said his custody is required to interrogate him based on the details collected about his business dealings.
Statements are likely to be taken from various people connected with him, including his former employees, complainants, etc. Though reports about Mavunkal’s fake antiquities business and acquaintance with celebrities, politicians and senior police officers have surfaced, the crime branch’s investigation will focus on the two financial fraud cases registered against him based on the complaints from seven persons.
“We need to interrogate him thoroughly as there are lots of details that need clarity and as of now, there is no need to take him around for evidence collection. Monson has confessed that he created a public image of a philanthropist and a close friend of several celebrities and important persons to dupe people into buying fakes. Though we have found evidence suggesting his close links with several celebrities, no complaints or leads were received so far regarding their involvement in the fraud,” said an officer.
Most of the items in his antique collections have turned out to be fake or locally-procured ones. “Many of them were manufactured recently by local carpenters and sculptors. A large Ganesha idol in his collection that he had claimed to be from the 19th century was found to be carved out by a carpenter in Thiruvananthapuram a few years back and Monson is yet to pay him. Almost all the luxury cars he owned were used cars which he had bought in auction at cheap prices,” he added.
Crime branch sources, however, said their probe is not cantered on the antiques but Mavunkal’s financial dealings. They said he had cleverly avoided any direct transactions with the complainants and that the money was transferred to the accounts of his employees and acquaintances. Customs officers on Tuesday conducted an inspection at his house to find out whether he evaded taxes for import of cars. The forest department will also launch a probe to check whether the ivory with him is original or not.
