A fresh probe has been launched by the Kerala police against actor Dileep, with regard to the female actor abduction and sexual assault case, based on the allegations made by filmmaker Balachandra Kumar, The New Indian Express reported.
After recording Kumar’s statement, on Tuesday, the police submitted the same in a sealed cover to the Ernakulam Additional Special Sessions Court. The court directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to further investigate and file a report, by January 20.
According to the report, as part of the new investigation, the SIT is likely to question Dileep again, after obtaining a legal opinion on whether there are any procedural barriers in questioning the accused persons and witnesses, in this case. Apart from the actor, the SIT is likely to question the first accused, Pulsar Suni.
Earlier last week, director Balachandra Kumar revealed that Dileep had watched the video of sexual assault at his house. He further admitted that the actor knew Sunil Kumar, also known as Pulsar Suni. The director also alleged that Dileep had influenced some of the significant witnesses in the case, who turned hostile during the trial.
Sources told the publication that the allegations raised by Kumar have to be cross-checked with Dileep and other persons named in the statement. The report also noted that although a majority of the people mentioned by Balachandra Kumar were already scrutinised during the trial, the SIT would see if they could be questioned again.
The report also noted that the SIT had informed the court that they were invoking Section 173(8) of CrPC, to carry out a further investigation based on Balachandra Kumar’s revelations.
While they filed a plea seeking to postpone the examination of the investigation officer (IO) as a witness, the court observed, “Though the investigation is the exclusive prerogative of the IO, considering the direction of the Supreme Court to dispose of the case on or before February 16, 2022, the IO is directed to file a report on further investigation on or before January 20, 2022.”
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Meanwhile, there are reports that the SIT submitted Kumar’s mobile phone as evidence to the court. It may be noted that when the case came up for review on Tuesday, there was no lawyer to represent the survivor after Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) VN Anil Kumar resigned. Hence, the court asked the IO to make the necessary arrangements for continuing the trial in the case. Pulsar Suni was brought to the court, after a petition seeking permission to meet his lawyer was filed.
Recently, the survivor wrote to the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, seeking further investigation in the case and requested to appoint a competent SPP. Following that, Dileep, the eighth accused in this case, had lodged a complaint against the investigation officer working in the case, Baiju Paulose, to the Chief Minister and State Police Chief. He alleged that the new revelations were based on a conspiracy between Balachandra Kumar and officer Paulose.