THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Close on the heels of the arrest of three temporary staff of the Censor Board of Film Certification on charges of leaking the Malayalam film ‘Premam’, one more person involved in the case surrendered before the Anti-piracy Cell office here on Tuesday. Ranju, a resident of Vazhayila in the city, surrendered, reportedly to avoid arrest on his alleged involvement in the leak of the film through Whatsapp.
Ranju is a friend of Arun Kumar and from whom he allegedly took the copy of the film and later circulated it through Whats app to his friends in Kerala and Gulf countries. Arun Kumar, 26, of Karakulam, Lithin, 25, of Nedumangad and Kumaran, 30, of Pachalloor, three temporary staff of the Censor Board, were arrested by the Anti-piracy Cell officials on Monday on their alleged involvement in the leak of the the censor copy of the film.
According to the anti-piracy cell officials, Ranju had sent the copy of the film to a friend working in a Gulf country and the latter sent the film to his girl friend in Kollam. Following that, the girl sent the copy to three students based in Kollam and they uploaded the film to the internet.
Anti-piracy cell SP Prateesh Kumar told ‘Express’ that Ranju had surrendered only after the piracy cell team secured key information about him, including his address. “In fact, he surrendered just before we began to nab him. With the arrest of Ranju, all the key persons involved in the ‘Premam’ leak case have been taken into custody”, he said.
Kumar also made it clear that the chargesheet of the case would be filed only after collecting more evidence. “Right now, the interrogation and evidence collection are going on. Hence the investigation will be continued till more evidence related to the case is collected,” he added.