Ice-cream parlour case makes a comeback

The ice-cream parlour sex scandal that rocked Kerala and was one of the reasons for the defeat of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the last Assembly elections is back in the political limelight.

This time, KA Rauf, co-brother and one time close aide of PK Kunhalikutty, general secretary of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and then Industries and IT minister, has opened the Pandora’s Box that could upset the political calculations of IUML and UDF.

Last Friday, at a press conference in Malappuram, Kunhalikutty alleged that there was a threat to his life from Rauf. One of his gunmen had officially lodged a complaint with the police and the government had assigned deputy SP of Malappuram to probe the allegations. He also alleged that Rauf was involved in making forged CD to blackmail him in the sex scandal case.

In a quick retaliating move, Rauf attacked Kunhalikutty in particular and Muslim League leadership in general. He alleged that as a minister Kunhalikutty had amassed immense wealth, which he and his family members invested in various business in the West Asia.

The ice-cream parlour sex scandal occurred during 2005-06. Kunhalikutty was defeated in the Kuttipuram Assembly seat, which was considered to be the safest seat of IUML. Rauf was the close aide of Kunhalikutty then in settling all the issues.

After the elections, the two co-brothers parted ways and Rauf was involved in a 300 acre land case in Maharashtra. He was behind the bars for three months .

Now, the CPI(M)-led LDF government had ordered fresh probe in the issue. The Left Front, which is bogged down by various issues like Lavelin case, Sabarimala stampede, price rise and internal issues of the front, has now got a lifeline through the fresh allegations against IUML, the second largest party in the UDF.

Opposition leader Oommen Chandy and PCC chief Ramesh Chennithala have, however, played down the allegations saying said there was nothing new in the revelations and that courts had found Kunhalikutty not guilty.

There is also a division in IUML as a section led by MK Muneer is not happy with the latest developments. They feel the sex scandal had damaged the image of the party. The party is finding it difficult to fill the vacuum created by the death of Panakkad Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal, then supremo of the party.