KOCHI: Police arrested P. Haris, hairstylist in Mollywood, for allegedly threatening South Indian actress Shamna Kasim to extort money. Police took him into custody and he is being interrogated.
The police had earlier arrested a seven member gang including the main accused Mohammad Sherif in connection with the case. The gang approached Shamna’s family under the pretext of marriage proposal for the actress. The con-men introduced them as members of a respected family and after visiting the actress’ house they demanded money.
Case has been registered after the actress’ family lodged a complaint with the police.
After the actress case is reported, several women approached the police complaining against blackmailing and extortion of money by the same gang, including eight models, who were called for modelling assignments and were allegedly locked up in a hotel room in Palakkad.
Meanwhile, police summoned actor Dharmajan Bolgatty on Monday, a popular comedian artist in Malayalam movies, to record his statement in connection with the case. According to regional media reports, Dharmajan has been summoned after they came to know that the accused had contacted him and he has close ties with the arrested hairstylist.
Talking to media persons Dharmajan said that the accused contacted him asking for the phone numbers of two actresses. “A person introduced as Ashkar Ali called me a couple of times. He said that he is a member of the gang using celebrities for gold smuggling. Their mobile phone got switched off when I said that complaint will be lodged with the police,” the actor said.
The special investigation team has extended probe to Mollywood after knowing that Haris has close ties with several actors and make-up artists, reports added. Police are likely to summon more persons from the film industry for interrogation in the coming days.
Shamna is expected to arrive in Kochi from Hyderabad today evening and the SIT is expected to take her statement online as the actress will have to go under quarantine.
