Actress abduction case: Popular actor Dileep arrested
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Popular Malayalam actor Dileep was today arrested in connection with the abduction and assault case of a South Indian actress. Image Courtesy Facebook
The script went awry for Dileep, one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest stars, on Monday as the actor was arrested in Kochi in connection with conspiracy behind the molestation of a popular actor.
Dileep was detained early on Monday for a second round of questioning and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) recorded his arrest late evening.
Interrogation of the actor was continuing at the Aluva Police Club at 9.30 pm. State police chief Loknath Behera confirmed the arrest here in a late-night media briefing.
Behera said no others were detained in connection with the case on Monday. The actor is likely to be produced before a magistrate on Tuesday. “On the basis of evidence we have collected, to further the investigation, we have arrested him. The arrest is part of the process of investigation,” Behera said.
Dileep’s arrest follows months of speculation over the actor’s links with the key accused in the case, Sunilkumar aka ‘Pulsar’ Suni. The actor was molested in a moving car on the night of February 17, by Suni. The SIT is yet to confirm the motive behind the conspiracy even as reports on Dileep’s personal differences with the actor continued to be cited as a possibly crucial link to the case. The molested actor had earlier said in interviews that a top actor conspired to remove her from film projects.
On June 28, the investigating team had interrogated Dileep for 13 hours in connection with the case.
Dileep, who maintained that he had no links with the accused, had said ahead of the marathon interrogation session that he would not accept a “media trial”.
Amid reports of a letter which Suni wrote to Dileep from the prison seeking financial compensation for completing his “assignment”, Dileep and his filmmaker friend Nadirshah had revealed that the actor had already filed a police complaint alleging attempts to “blackmail” him.
The arrest has sent shock waves through the Malayalam film industry, which has, of late, faced allegations of engagement with criminal gangs. It has also dealt a blow to the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), which extended unstinting support to Dileep and was criticised for not acting against members who shamed the molested actor through social media posts.
Dileep himself had, during a television debate, insinuated that the actor was “friends” with the key accused. The Aluva Police Club also witnessed protests by different groups against the actor.
Dileep was detained early on Monday for a second round of questioning and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) recorded his arrest late evening.
Interrogation of the actor was continuing at the Aluva Police Club at 9.30 pm. State police chief Loknath Behera confirmed the arrest here in a late-night media briefing.
Behera said no others were detained in connection with the case on Monday. The actor is likely to be produced before a magistrate on Tuesday. “On the basis of evidence we have collected, to further the investigation, we have arrested him. The arrest is part of the process of investigation,” Behera said.
Dileep’s arrest follows months of speculation over the actor’s links with the key accused in the case, Sunilkumar aka ‘Pulsar’ Suni. The actor was molested in a moving car on the night of February 17, by Suni. The SIT is yet to confirm the motive behind the conspiracy even as reports on Dileep’s personal differences with the actor continued to be cited as a possibly crucial link to the case. The molested actor had earlier said in interviews that a top actor conspired to remove her from film projects.
On June 28, the investigating team had interrogated Dileep for 13 hours in connection with the case.
Dileep, who maintained that he had no links with the accused, had said ahead of the marathon interrogation session that he would not accept a “media trial”.
Amid reports of a letter which Suni wrote to Dileep from the prison seeking financial compensation for completing his “assignment”, Dileep and his filmmaker friend Nadirshah had revealed that the actor had already filed a police complaint alleging attempts to “blackmail” him.
The arrest has sent shock waves through the Malayalam film industry, which has, of late, faced allegations of engagement with criminal gangs. It has also dealt a blow to the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), which extended unstinting support to Dileep and was criticised for not acting against members who shamed the molested actor through social media posts.
Dileep himself had, during a television debate, insinuated that the actor was “friends” with the key accused. The Aluva Police Club also witnessed protests by different groups against the actor.