Crime Branch

Kerala News HIGHLIGHTS: Monson Mavunkal cheating case: The Crime Branch on Sunday (Sep 3) issued a notice to former DIG Surendran's wife Bindulekha in connection with an antiquities fraud case involving fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal. She was asked to appear for interrogation at the Crime Branch office in Kalamassery on September 8. 

A cybercrime case in Bengaluru involves a teacher, Chatura Rao, who was defrauded by individuals posing as Mumbai Crime Branch officers. Rao transferred Rs 32.25 lakhs after being misled into believing his personal documents were misused, prompting a police investigation.
 

Yelahanka police arrest three individuals from Odisha with 21 kg of cannabis. Kodigehalli police seize heroin worth Rs. 3 lakh, arrest four drug peddlers. Central Crime Branch apprehends notorious drug peddler under PIT Act, who had six prior criminal cases in various police stations.

The Crime Branch has directed the wife of former DIG Surendran, Bindulekha, to appear for interrogation on September 8 in connection with the antiquities fraud case involving fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal.

Tanur custodial death: The Crime Branch has slapped murder charges against four District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) members. Thamir and five others were arrested by the police in the early hours of August 1 after receiving a tip-off of a drug deal at the Tanur-Devadhar flyover. He died allegedly in the police custody.

IG Lakshman is accused of attempting to sabotage the case involving fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal. The Crime Branch found that he had kept up a close relationship with Monson Mavunkal even after the fraud case garnered media attention, and he was suspended on November 10, 2021.

Tanur custodial death: Currently, the case is being probed by the crime branch. DGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib proposed transferring the case to the CBI. Following this, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan granted consent to the proposal.

Dr Vandana Das, a house surgeon was stabbed to death by Sandeep when he was brought to Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital for treatment on May 10, 2023. 

Kerala's Inspector General of Police, Gugulloth Lakshman approached the High Court seeking to quash the case booked against him for his alleged involvement in Monson Mavunkal cheating case.

Last week, Central Crime Branch officials, along with the Bomb Disposal Squad and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) experts, raided and discovered the grenades kept neatly packed in a locker at the house of one of the suspects, Jaheed Tabrej, on Kodigehalli Road in Bengaluru. In connection with the case, the terror accused Thadiyantavida Nazeer has been taken into custody by the Bengaluru police.

An arms dealer, Fayaz, from Davangere, suspected to have links with Bengaluru terror suspects, was arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB). He has multiple cases, including drug and arms dealing, against him. The police are investigating his connections in Davangere.

The arrests came after a joint operation carried out by the Central Crime Branch and the central intelligence department. The mobile phones of the five terror suspects and their belongings have been seized and assessed.

The chargesheet was recently filed by Unit 10 of the Mumbai crime branch police, shedding light on the details of the alleged conspiracy and extortion carried out by Monica Choudhary and her associates.

Based on a statement made by complainants who had lost money in the cheating case, the Crime Branch made the decision to question the KPCC president K Sudhakaran and record his arrest. The complainants said they had given money to Monson Mavunkal in Sudhakaran's presence. 

Congress chief of Kerala K Sudhakaran was arrested by the Crime Branch on Friday (June 23) in connection with his alleged involvement in a cheating case associated with fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal. However, he will be released soon as per the High Court's directive on bail conditions.