Actor Dileep, director Nadirshah questioned for nearly 12 hours by police

Mumbai: Popular Malayalam actor Dileep and his director friend Nadirshah were questioned in view of fresh revelations in the abduction and assault case of a South Indian actress, police said today.

If necessary, they will be called again for questioning, police said responding to reporters' queries if Dileep was summoned at the Aluva Police Club yesterday for recording his detailed statement on his complaint.

On April 20, he had alleged blackmail by a man, who claimed that he was a friend of the prime accused in the case.

Police said they were also investigating the alleged conspiracy angle in the case.

"Questions were asked based on Dileep's complaint. Questions were asked to them about other case too. That is the reason why it took a long time to complete," Ernakulam Rural SP A V George, who is part of the investigation team headed by

ADGP B Sandhya said.

Dileep, Nadirshah and the actor's manager were allowed to go at 1.05 am today after 12 hours of questioning which began at 12.30 pm yesterday.

"All issues related to the case were discussed," Dileep said emerging from the police club. The actor's manager was summoned as he had received a purported threat call from the prime accused 'Pulsar Suni', police said.

The Rural SP said it was done for not giving a clean chit to anyone.

Dileep said police recorded his detailed statement on his complaint on April 20 alleging blackmail by a man, who claimed to be a friend of Suni.

"I am very confident... the investigation is progressing very well," the actor said, adding, he wants that truth is revealed.

Later in the day, Dileep attended a general body meeting of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

AMMA president Innocent said the issue was not discussed at the meeting. He claimed that no one raised the issue during the meeting attended by Malayalam film artistes.

Innocent told a press conference that the organisation stood by its two members, the actress and Dileep.

"Both are children of AMMA," Innocent said.

Top actors Mammootty and Mohanlal were also present at the meeting.

During the press conference, some AMMA office-bearers including actors Mukesh, Devan and K B Ganeshkumar expressed displeasure when some questions were raised on the issue.

Asked whether there was any move to alienate Dileep, Mukesh, looking upset, rose from his seat and said, ‘you can

see Dileep is sitting with us.’

Before heading to the police club at nearby Aluva yesterday, Dileep had alleged that some people were making efforts to make him an accused in the case.

"That is not going to happen," he had said.

The actor had earlier said he filed the complaint with the Director General of Police along with evidence of blackmailing, allegedly with the knowledge of 'Pulsar' Suni.

Nadirshah had on June 24 said a man named Vishnu, claiming to be Suni's friend, had telephoned him seeking a huge amount from the actor.

He had said Vishnu, who claimed to have shared a cell with Suni in jail, told him that some people in the Malayalam film world had offered to give money to Suni if he said Dileep was a conspirator in the case during interrogation.

Nadirshah had also claimed Vishnu had offered to give him money for helping to trap Dileep in the case.

Six persons, including 'Pulsar' Suni, Martin and Vigeesh were arrested in connection with the incident.

The actress, who has worked in Tamil and Telugu films, was abducted and allegedly molested inside her car for two hours by the accused, who had forced their way into the vehicle on February 17 night and later escaped in a busy area in Kochi.