Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has alleged that a bid is on to scuttle the Kozhikode ice-cream parlour sex scandal case and that the ‘smear campaign' against him in connection with the case is part of such attempts.
Replying to questions at a news conference here on Saturday, Mr. Achuthanandan said that howsoever hard those involved in the case tried, the guilty would have to face punishment. “So long as there are courts of justice in this country, the guilty will not be able to escape punishment with such tricks,” the Opposition leader said when asked to comment on reports that he had asked Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty's co-brother K.A. Rauf to expose CPI(M) leaders even as he attacked Mr. Kunhalikutty in connection with the case.
Mr. Achuthanandan said that Mr. Rauf had met him at Thrissur the other day to apprise him about the threats that he faced on account of the role he had played in exposing those involved in the ice- cream parlour case and their attempts to influence even the judiciary. “He told me that he was facing threats to his life from Mr. Kunhalikutty's men. I promised him that I will then do whatever is necessary if he gave his grievance in writing,” the Opposition leader said. To a question whether it was proper for a leader of his stature to be seen hobnobbing with persons like Mr. Rauf, Mr. Achuthanandan pointed out that Mr. Rauf had visited him only once recently and that too when his life was under threat.
Launching a scathing attack on Mr. Kunhalikutty, Mr. Achuthanandan said that Mr. Kunhalikutty had played a part in spreading ‘lies' about him. Persons who could ensure dissolution of the Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe the bid to trigger a communal riot in Kasaragod were capable of many such things. He did not think that Mr. Rauf would have said anything of the kind reported by the media.
The Opposition leader pointed out that the allegations against him had come at a time when preparations were on for questioning those involved in the ice cream parlour case as also the suicide by two girls under mysterious circumstances earlier. There were attempts to even to finish off the witnesses in the related cases. “But their tricks will not work with me,” Mr. Achuthanandan said.
