INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KOCHI: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran was on Friday arrested by the Crime Branch wing of the police in a
cheating case, in which the prime accused is controversial antique dealer Monson Mavunkal, and later released on bail.Sudhakaran, after
being released on bail, told reporters that he was arrested after several hours of questioning by the Crime Branch before which he had
appeared in the morning for questioning
After that, they recorded my arrest and then I was released on bail
I have faith in the judiciary
I will face the case in court," he told reporters in Kochi
Sudhakaran, surrounded by several party leaders and workers, said that he was "fully confident" that the police had no evidence against him
in the case for him to be punished."I am not afraid
I am not going to hide anywhere," he said
On being asked whether he rejected links with Mavunkal, the KPCC chief said that he has
Meanwhile, senior party leaders of Congress in Kerala criticised Sudhakaran's arrest and termed it as a "political conspiracy"
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly VD Satheesan contended the Left government was "ruled by fear" and was therefore trying to
silence the opposition by such tactics.He said that both the Congress and the UDF opposition led by it would resist the Left government's
alleged move of filing false cases against the opposition leaders who are criticising the administration and making allegations of
corruption against it.Satheesan alleged that the actions of chief minister Pinaryi Vijayan in Kerala were a "carbon copy" of what Prime
Minister Narendra Modi was doing in Delhi.Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala too equated Vijayan with Modi by alleging that they both
share the same fascist attitude of imprisoning those critical of their government.He contended that Sudhakaran's arrest was "politically
motivated" and would be countered legally and politically.Chennithala also said that the KPCC chief's arrest was a "drama" to divert
public attention from the alleged corruption and mismanagement by the state government.
