Kochi, Mar 23 (IANS): Two more Kerala Police officers have courted trouble after a preliminary probe by the Crime Branch into the case of now arrested fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal found that they had received money from the conman.

The probe found out that the two inspector-ranked officers had taken Rs 2.80 lakh from Mavunkal, which the duo claimed they took from the trickster as loan.

Following the preliminary investigation, the state police have decided to launch a department probe into the matter.

The Kerala Police are already under heavy duress after an IG-level officer, G. Lekshmana, was suspended for his alleged close links with Mavunkal.

When the case first surfaced in September last year, pictures of then state police chief, Loknath Behra, and serving ADGP, Manoj Abraham, visiting a 'museum' of Mavunkal at Kochi had gone viral.

And during a hearing in the Kerala High Court on Mavunkal, the court had asked how come these top police officers never thought as to how a museum like this can function, as the rules are very clear. It also pointed out how come the police set up a daily beat box at Mavunkal's house and the museum.

Mavunkal (54) use to take all his high-profile guests into his fold by showcasing antiques in his collection which he claimed included the 'staff of Moses' and 'two of the 30 silver coins that were taken by Judas to cheat Jesus Christ'.

The police said that he had showcased these 'rare' items -- a throne said to be used by Tipu Sultan, a huge collection of old Qurans, Bibles (Old Testament and New Testament), and old handwritten copies of Bhagavad Gita.

Mavunkal used to invite several VIPs to his palatial residence, a part of which was converted into a museum to house his 'precious' antiques.

Mavunkal is presently under judicial custody.