IUML stands by Kunhalikutty after fresh case filed by police

Kozhikode, Jan 31 (PTI) Fully backing its leader P KKunhalikutty a day after police filed a fresh case against himin a sex scandal, IUML today said the charges against him arefalse and fabricated and an attempt to "tarnish" the party.

IUML national President and Union Minister E Ahamedsaid the allegations levelled against Kunhalikutty werepolitically motivated and meant to malign the party.

"We will face it unitedly. Such ill-motivatedcampaigns are not going to click or come in the way of theCongress-led UDF (in which IUML is a key partner) in theassembly polls," he said after a meeting of the IUML stateexecutive here to discuss the developments.

Senior IUML leader and Lok Sabha member, E T MuhammadBasheer said there was a concerted move to defame the partyand Kunhalikutty personally by creating "bogus and fabricated"stories.

The recent revelation by Kunhalikutty that he faced athreat to his life from a relative paved the way for the row.

The League leader''s relative K A Rouf not only deniedthe charge but went on record to say he had helpedKunhalikutty to scuttle the "Icecream parlour" sex scam caseby influencing victims and witnesses to retract theirstatements.

Yesterday, police had registered an FIR againstKunhalikutty and Rouf on the charge of entering into aconspiracy to pressurise some victims to retract their earlierstatements, which became vital in subsequent dismissal of thecase.

The ''Icecream parlour case'' relates to allegationsthat surfaced in late 1990s that an ice cream parlour inKozhikode city was used as a cover to lure young women intosex rackets.

Kunhalikutty quit as Industries Minister in theCongress-led UDF Government in 2004 in the wake of allegationsin connection with the case.

The IUML leader, however, did not figure as an accusedin the case. But political rivals and women''s rights outiftsalleged that he had misused his position and clout to avoidfacing prosecution.

IUML is a constituent in the Congess-led UnitedDemocratic Front opposition.