Actor Dileep, who is currently under trial as the chief conspirator behind the 2017 female actor abduction and sexual assault, was questioned by the special investigation team of the crime branch in the presence of filmmaker Balachandra Kumar at the police club in Aluva on Tuesday.
This marked the second consecutive day of Dileep’s interrogation as part of the fresh probe into the actor assault case and he was quizzed for nine hours.
In February 2017, a female actor who predominantly works in Malayalam and Kannada cinema was abducted and sexually assaulted by a gang of men in a moving car en route to Kochi from Thrissur. Dileep was charged as the chief conspirator behind this incident and the trial has been underway for over five years.
At the end of 2021, the case gained momentum when some serious allegations were levelled against Dileep by filmmaker Kumar. The latter alleged that Dileep had watched the video of the sexual assault at his house; that the actor knew the first accused in the case, Pulsar Suni; and that Dileep had influenced some of the significant witnesses in the case, who later turned hostile during the trial.
Following this, the survivor sought further investigation in the case, and the court ordered a fresh probe. As part of this continued investigation, Dileep was summoned for questioning this week.
During Monday’s interrogation, Dileep had claimed that Kumar’s allegations were baseless and that many other people had attempted to exploit this situation created by the filmmaker. He was asked to return for further questioning on Tuesday, at which time he was quizzed in the presence of Kumar himself.
Dileep reported to the police club around 11:30 am on Tuesday and he continued to hold that he had no friendship with Kumar and also dismissed the allegations raised against him. Following this, Kumar was called in to the police club later in the afternoon and the actor was questioned in his presence. The investigating team was reportedly able to collect several crucial pieces of evidence against Dileep, including his attempt to influence the witnesses who turned hostile during the trial.
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Dileep had earlier moved the Kerala high court seeking to suspend further investigation into the female actor assault case. Rejecting his plea, the HC directed the agency to continue with the process and conclude it by April 15.
Earlier, on Monday, the HC refused to grant bail to Pulsar Suni, the first accused in the actor assault case.
Meanwhile, one of Dileep’s associates, G Sharath, was quizzed by the crime branch in the Kalamassery office on Tuesday in connection with the alleged conspiracy to kill the investigators of the female actor assault case.
For a full timeline of the female actor abduction and assault case, see here.