Malayalam actress assault case: Cops summon junior lawyer'

KOCHI: The special investigation team probing the abduction and sexual assault of a female actor on Sunday has summoned Raju Joseph, a junior advocate of Pratheesh Chacko, the former legal counsel of Sunilkumar alias Pulsar Suni, the prime accused in the case. The junior has been taken into custody even as the probe team intensified the search for Appunni, a personal aide of actor Dileep, and Mr Chacko. Mr Joseph is being questioned at the Aluva Police Club.

Interrogation of Appunni and Chacko is crucial for the probe team to make further progress in the case as the two were allegedly involved in many behind the scene activities after the crime was committed. The police feels that Pulsar Suni had handed over the memory card containing the visuals of the assault to Dileep with the help of the lawyer. Appunni has been found involved in settlement talks with Suni over the amount. The probe team feels that the two are hiding to avoid the possibility of facing an interrogation along with the actor.

They meanwhile continued efforts to collect maximum evidence against the star and recorded the statements of two eyewitnesses to the conversation between him and Suni. Dileep is expected to file a bail application before a higher court on Monday. Women's Collective in Cinema has condemned an alleged statement by former police chief T. P. Sen Kumar against the female actor subjected to the attack. In a Facebook post, it said it would file a complaint before the State Women’s Commission.