Dileep not cooperating: Kerala police

Kochi: The police said on Friday that actor Dileep was not cooperating with their investigation. The prosecution submitted this before the Angamaly judicial first class magistrate court as one of the reasons for the Special Investigation Team (SIT) requesting extended police custody of the actor. During his interrogation over the last two days at the Aluva Police Club after the evidence collection process, Dileep refused to answer queries and denied charges despite being presented concrete evidence, sources said.

The charge arises even as the Enforcement Directorate launched a preliminary probe against the actor for his suspected involvement in money laundering and whether he owned benami properties. “The preliminary inquiry is carried out on the basis of information in FIR registered by the police and recent report filed by the investigation team at the concerned magistrate court,” an ED official said. However, ED officials denied that the statement of Dileep was recorded. “Our officials went to the Aluva Police Club only to get information,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the SIT sources said they are yet to take any decision to interrogate any MLAs, including Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath, in the case. Sadath held a press meet to clear the air in the wake of reports that the police might record his statement in the case based on his frequent contact with the actor Dileep.

“My friendship with Dileep dates back a long time. I contacted him post the incident and inquired whether he had any role. But he continued to assert his innocence every time. Now that the police arrested him, my opinion is that he should be given maximum punishment if found guilty of the offense,” he said. To a query, he categorically denied having any real estate or money dealings with Dileep.

“Those who raise such allegations should show the proof,” he said, while adding that the charges against him are politically motivated. “Reports that police might question me, though they are yet to contact me, raises the doubt whether it was a politically motivated balancing act since a few elected representatives of the Left were already under the cloud of suspicion in the case,” Sadath said.