KOCHI: The Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate Court on Friday extended the police custody of actor Dileep till 5 pm on Saturday and adjourned the hearing of his bail plea to Saturday. Dileep was presented in the open court after the two-day police custody expired on Friday. The prosecution said the actor is not fully cooperating with the investigation.
“During interrogation, Dileep maintained his earlier stand he did not know Suni. The probe into the conspiracy angle is on the right track. The police team requires three more days’ custody of Dileep to unearth the mobile phone and more crucial evidence with regard to the conspiracy,” the prosecution stated.
When the plea for police custody came up for hearing, the court asked whether further custody was needed only for interrogation. To this, the prosecution replied several material evidence were yet to be collected. Though Dileep’s counsel objected to the custody plea stating his presence was not needed, the court extended the custody period.
Dileep’s counsel submitted the police was trying to fill up the wide gaps in the remand report using the actor, who had already been questioned by a team of officers led by the ADGP. The police appear to be groping in the dark and playing hide and seek after making a well-known person as accused without any trace of material for suspecting his involvement. The police are extending the custody period to force someone to become an approver as they are yet to find any, the counsel submitted.
There is no direct mention of the actor’s name in the statements of the complainant. Filing of custody application is an attempt to interrupt the pending procedure of bail application, the counsel stated.
‘Detailed probe needed’
The prosecution replied a detailed investigation with regard to the conspiracy angle was needed to avoid unnecessary allegations against the probe team. Dileep was brought to court around 10.45 am from the Aluva Police Club. When the court asked whether Dileep had any complaint against the police, the actor said he didn’t face any harassment during his custody. The prosecution informed the court they are ready to produce the case diary incorporating the day-today probe results in a sealed cover.
Preliminary probe into Dileep’s alleged benami deals
Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a preliminary probe into the alleged money laundering and benami properties owned by actor Dileep. ED officers said the probe is being carried out to check whether the actor has any benami land dealings.