Sexual assault on actress: Kerala CM Pinarayi says he won’t rule out conspiracy angle

The chief minister's clarification is a response to the criticism from various quarters, including the state’s opposition, for giving statements that might impact the probe.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (File photo)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (File photo)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said he does not rule out a conspiracy behind the sexual assault on a leading Malayalam actress on February 17.

"I did not say there was no conspiracy. What I said was that the media need not inquire into the conspiracy part," he told reporters in the Kerala capital.

The chief minister's clarification is a response to the criticism from various quarters, including the state’s opposition, for giving statements that might impact the probe.

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala had claimed that the chief minister, by denying a conspiracy theory, was giving a signal to the police on how they should conduct the probe.

The sensation abduction and sexual assault on the leading cinema star took place on the night of Feb. 17. While seven men, including her former driver Pulsar Suni and current driver are both accused in the case, there has been widespread speculation that they were acting at the behest of others in the film industry.

Chennithala had alleged that the chief minister's statement, coming within 48 hours of the crime, at a public function in Kozhikode was aimed at sabotaging the probe.

However, Pinarayi said his comment was made against the backdrop of a media report that there was no conspiracy in the incident. "I had also said that the police probe would continue. Chennithala's is a knee-jerk reaction," he said.

"My reaction was not based on an official report. I merely responded to that particular media report," the chief minister added.

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