Malayalam actress abduction: Dileep's aide moves HC for anticipatory bail

Kochi: Fearing his arrest in abduction-cum-assault case of a south Indian actress here, an aide of Malayalam actor Dileep too moved the Kerala High Court for the anticipatory bail, a relief which the court denied today to a lawyer suspected to have destroyed some evidence in the case.

In his anticipatory bail plea, Dileep's aide Sunilraj A S alias Appunni told the court that there have been "fanciful reports" about his role in the case and repeated assertions by the media that he would be arrested and arrayed as an accused.

He said he had received telephone calls from one Vishnu, allegedly on behalf of 'Pulsar' Suni, the prime accused.

The petitioner said he had been repeatedly interrogated by the Special Investigation Team probing the case but no incriminating evidence was found against him.

The petitioner also said he apprehended that he would be intimidated and tortured if taken into police custody.

He said he also believed that 'Pulsar' Suni was trying to blackmail Dileep, arrested in the case. Sunilraj's anticipatory bail plea is expected to be heard tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the high court is slated to consider tomorrow Dileep's bail plea.

The actor was denied bail by an Angamaly magisterial court near here. In a related development, the high court today disposed of the anticipatory bail plea of lawyer Pradeesh Chacko, observing that the offences alleged against him are bailable.

Granting Chacko time till 11 AM tomorrow to appear before the police team investigating the case, the court said police can proceed as per law, if its further probe finds he is involved in a non-bailable offence in connection with the case.

The police suspect the lawyer's role in destruction of evidence of the crime allegedly committed by Suni and his men, in the case.

They also suspect that Suni had handed over evidence, the mobile phone he had used to record the offending video, to Chacko at his office in Ernakulam.