Malayalam actress abduction: Dileep's bail plea rejected

Kochi: The Angamaly Judicial Magistrate Court on Monday rejected the bail application of Dileep  who has been in  judicial custody for over two months in connection with the actress assault case.  This is for fourth time that the courts have rejected his bail pleas. The  court dismissed the argument of the actor’s counsel that there was no “gang rape charges” (section 376 (D) IPC) against him as per the report filed by the investigating agency and that the only charge related to the  conspiracy to videograph the naked body of the victim.

Counsel further argued that the maximum punishment that can be provided in the case would  be below 10 years. “Consequently,  he is entitled to statutory bail as the chargesheet has not been filed within 60 days, which was completed on September 9,  as is mandatory in such cases.” However, the prosecution countered the new argument by producing more evidence against the actor to prove that he conspired with the first accused, Pulsar Suni aka Sunil Kumar, to videograph the whole sexual assault which warrants stringent charges. The SIT further submitted that Suni acted as per the direction of the actor while committing the crime and hence the stringent charges were  applicable.

The court observed that the chargesheet needs to be produced only before the completion of 90 days and rejected the petition. While submitting the new evidence, the prosecution revealed that the actor had called up Remya Nambeesan on her landline phone at 10 p.m. on the day when her close friend was attacked in a vehicle.  It further said Dileep was busy ringing up several persons till 12.30 a.m. However, the defence argued that the actor was just responding after hearing the news of the attack.

Earlier too, the court had rejected his bail application while the High Court too turned down a similar plea twice. Meanwhile, the High Court is set to hear the bail petition of Nadirshah, Dileep’s close aide, and actor Kavya Madhavan, Dileep’s wife, next Monday. In the case of Nadirshah, the court asked the investigation team to file a report about the details of his questioning in a sealed cover. Investigation officer Baiju Paulose informed the court that the actor-director was  attempting to hide  crucial information. However, as of now there was no move to arrest both Nadirshah and Kavya, he said.