The SIT probe into the allegations against Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty by his estranged relative K A Rauf in the ice cream parlour sex scandal has established that the witnesses of the case (Cr No: 282/1997 of Nadakkavu Police Station) were bribed on various occasions.
However, the Special Investigation Team maintained that, apart from solitary deposition of K A Rauf, it could not gather ‘admissible and relevant evidence’ to substantiate that the money was given to the witnesses on behalf of Kunhalikutty, ‘despite earnest efforts’.
In the final report in the case (Cr No:59/2011 of Kozhikode Town Police Station), which was leaked to the media in Kozhikode on Thursday, the SIT said, “The investigation conducted in the case establishes that money was given by Rauf and Chelari Shereef to witnesses Rajeena, Rejula, Kunhubaby, K Bindu and Roslin.
These witnesses also admitted that they accepted money at various points of time from Rauf and Shereef.
However, the witnesses gave varying and inconsistent versions regarding the purpose for which they received money.
Though Rauf furnished some details regarding the persons to whom he gave money on behalf of Kunhalikutty, the same could not be substantiated. Moreover, Rauf could not provide the date and persons in whose presence such financial transactions were made.”
Looking into the allegation that the witnesses were bribed at the instance of Kunhalikutty for not naming him in the case, SIT has pointed out that ‘there is no credible documentary evidence or eyewitness account for any of the transactions.
The report also noted that the ‘source, place, time and date of none of the transactions have been established in evidence and remain ambiguous. Significantly, the report noted that the ‘wealth possessed by Rajeena does not commensurate with her known sources of income.
However, there is no relevant documentary evidence or other documents including bank statements which reveal that money was received by the witness from Kunhalikutty.
As per the report, Rajeena stated that she might have received nearly Rs 40 to Rs 50 lakh from Rauf.
The probe revealed that the witnesses Rajeena, Rejula, Roslin and Bindu were tutored by an advocate at a house in Chalappuram to deal with the questions by the prosecutors during trial.