Contradicting versions by Press Club secretary, channel reporter
The Hindu
A day after he testified before the Crime Branch investigating the cases against Monson Mavunkal, a self-styled antique dealer, the Ernakulam Press Club secretary P. Sasikanth issued a statement on Th
A day after he testified before the Crime Branch investigating the cases against Monson Mavunkal, a self-styled antique dealer, the Ernakulam Press Club secretary P. Sasikanth issued a statement on Thursday.
He was summoned in connection with the sponsoring of the club’s annual gathering last year by the accused. Mr. Sasikanth said that Monson’s sponsorship of ₹5 lakh towards the food expenses was arranged by the district executive committee member, Sahin Antony, former television channel reporter, who is in the dock for his alleged close relations with the accused.
Mr. Sasikanth claimed that ₹10 lakh was transferred by Monson to his personal account, reportedly owing to troubles with the Press Club account. Of that, ₹5 lakh was to be paid to Sahin, as apparently Monson owed Sahin that amount, and the rest to the resort that hosted the event, Mr. Sasikanth claimed. He claimed to have neither met nor contacted Monson ever but admitted to a serious error of judgment.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.