Malayalam actress abduction: Cops to submit additional chargesheet

Kochi: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the actor abduction and sexual assault case is expected to file a chargesheet against actor Dileep in a month as officials maintained that the probe has entered its “last leg”. The chargesheet, most likely to be submitted by first week of September, would mainly include charges of conspiracy which, if proven, could see the actor getting a jail term of upto 20 years. Dileep, who is at present the 11th accused in the case, will be arraigned as the second accused in the additional chargesheet. So far there are 13 accused in the case.

A setback for the probe team will be the failure to trace the mobile and the memory card, allegedly used by Pulsar Suni, the first accused in the case, to record images of the attack. The probe so far indicates that the crucial proof has been destroyed. The SIT is learnt to have got statements in this regard from former counsel of Pulsar Suni and his junior lawyer Raju Joseph, who were earlier questioned on charges of destroying evidence. Meanwhile, Dileep is expected to move the High Court again on Monday seeking bail. 

A couple of junior lawyers of his new counsel Raman Pillai visited him at the Aluva sub jail on Saturday and held discussions in this regard. His counsel is expected to argue that all persons connected with the actor, including his personal manager Sunil Raj aka Appunni appeared before the probe team for interrogation. Meanwhile, the SIT is expected to subject Nadirshah to another round of questioning in the coming days besides a few more persons from the film industry. They also hinted at the possibility of more arrests on the charges of destruction of evidence.

Earlier on Saturday, the investigation team recorded the statement of Samad, younger brother of Nadirshah, after summoning him at the Aluva Police Club at 12 noon. The SIT has already submitted a chargesheet against seven persons including Pulsar Suni at the Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate court. Dileep was taken into custody during the second phase of investigation and a case was lodged against him for criminal conspiracy, rape, criminal intimidation and relevant sections of the IT Act.