Team News Riveting
Kochi, January 17
Malayalam film actor Dileep seems to be landing in fresh fiasco as the Kerala High Court on Monday allowed the prosecution to re-examine 3 witnesses and summon 5 additional witnesses in the actress abduction and sexual assault case.
The prosecution had sought recall of 7 witnesses and summoning of 9 additional witnesses. Justice Kauser Edappagath pronounced the verdict on the appeal filed by the State Government challenging the proceedings before the trial court in the actress attack case and seeking to re-examine several witnesses. The entire exercise of adducing additional evidence as per this order should be concluded in 10 days, the Court added.
The actor and his associates are being tried for hatching a conspiracy to take revenge on a female actor in the Malayalam film industry by having her abducted, sexually assaulted and photographed in a moving vehicle.
The actor landed in a fresh dispute when the Investigating Officer (IO) on January 3 informed the CBI Special Court quoting the statements from a film director Balachandra Kumar that he had heard Dileep indicating to take revenge on the police officers investigating the case. The trial judge ordered the IO to submit a detailed report before January 20 after completing the investigation.
Meanwhile, Dileep has approached the court seeking anticipatory bail after the Crime Branch of the Kerala Police registered a new FIR against him and five others for allegedly threatening the investigation officials.
Dileep, his brother P Sivakumar and brother-in-law TN Suraj have been charged for offences punishable under Sections 116 (offering bribe to public servant), 118 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
The case will be heard on Tuesday until which time the prosecution has assured the Court that Dileep will not be arrested.
