KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday reserved its order on the bail petition of actor Dileep, after hearing both sides of the argument in the case pertaining to the abduction and assault on an actress in Kochi. The special investigation team probing the case submitted before the court Dileep, the eleventh accused, was the mastermind who hatched the conspiracy.
The prosecution submitted Dileep had given the contract or ‘quotation’ for committing rape. Appearing for the police, Director General of Prosecution (DGP) C Sreedharan Nair and senior government pleader Suman Chakravarthy said: “It is for the first time in the history of criminal law a quotation was given for committing rape. Dileep’s name will enter the annals of criminal history if he is convicted in the case.”
According to the prosecution, the SIT had collected sufficient materials and evidence to prove Dileep’s involvement in the crime. The telephone call records and deposition of eyewitnesses confirm his role. Refuting Dileep’s claim he did not know Pulsar Suni, the prosecution said the actor had met Suni more than four times at different places. Dileep had handed over `10,000 as an advance from his car to Suni to commit rape and record it.
The prosecution submitted the original mobile phone and the memory card containing the visuals were yet to be recovered. The police have only recovered a memory card containing the visuals copied from the original card.Dileep’s counsel submitted there was no material to implicate the actor. The police had filed the final report in the case in April. In the wake of media reports, he was called by the police on several occasions and questioned for hours along with his staff members.
Without conducting an inquiry and solely based on a statement of Pulsar Suni, a criminal involved in a number of abduction and robbery cases, he was arraigned as accused and arrested on July 10. He is in judicial custody since then. In the remand report filed against him, there is no statement indicating connection between the petitioner and the crime. He was implicated in the case following a deep-rooted conspiracy at high levels. The petitioner said he had signed several film projects. If he is detained further his film career will be spoiled. Rejecting bail will not give any message to society, counsel for the petitioner said.
Pratheesh Chacko arrested, released on bail
Kochi: Pratheesh Chacko, the former counsel of Pulsar Suni, was arrested by the special investigation team in connection with the actor assault case. His arrest was recorded after a marathon interrogation at the Aluva Police Club. Later, he was released on bail at 8.30 pm. Pratheesh had appeared before the team, including Rural SP A V George, by 11 am.
The cops strongly believe Pulsar Suni handed over the memory card containing the visuals of the assault on the actress to Pratheesh. The cops said the interrogation of Pratheesh is crucial in taking the investigation forward as the probe so far has pointed to his role in the post-crime scenario. The sleuths had earlier interrogated Raju Joseph, Pratheesh’s junior. Based on Pulsar Suni’s deposition, the police had searched the office premises of Chacko and recovered a bag containing four SIM cards, a memory card, card reader and the dress worn by Pulsar Suni while committing the crime.
Abduction bid: Accused confess to crime
Kochi: The four accused arrested on Wednesday in the case pertaining to the abduction bid on an actress in Kochi in 2011 said they were aware of Pulsar Suni’s plan to abduct and sexually assault the actress. The police said during interrogation, second accused Ashraf Kunjumon,32, who introduced himself as the representative of a hotel in the city; third accused Suneesh E K,32, the tempo traveller driver; fourth accused Abin Kuria-kose,27, and fifth accused Bibin V Paul,27, have confessed to the crime. The officers said the four accused, along with Pulsar Suni, prepared a plan to abduct the actress and videograph obscene visuals. The police took the accused to the Ernakulam South Railway Station, Ponnurunni and a hotel in the city for gathering evidence.
‘Granting of bail may undermine probe’
Kochi: Opposing the bail plea of actor Dileep, the prosecution submitted before the Kerala High Court many crucial witnesses in the case were linked with the Malayalam film industry. “Hence, if Dileep is released on bail, he will influence the witnesses to sabotage the investigation and trial. Many leading actors and film-related persons have been questioned and their statements were recorded,” the prosecution said. The prosecution submitted Dileep had entered into a criminal conspiracy with Pulsar Suni during their meeting in March-April, 2013, in room No-410 of Hotel Abad Plaza, Ernakulam. The duo was present in the hotel and this was confirmed by the witness statements and hotel bills. The room was booked in Dileep’s name, the prosecution said.