Kochi: In connection with sexual assault case Actor Dileep and other accused appeared before the crime branch for interrogation on Sunday. The Kerala High Court had ordered an interrogation in a case registered against him and five others for allegedly threatening officials probing the sexual assault of an actress in 2017.
On Saturday, Kerala High Courted granted actor Dileep interim protection from arrest in the actor assault case, but directed him and other accused to appear before the investigating officers on January 23, 24 and 25 for interrogation.
Dileep, who reached the crime branch office at around 8.50 AM, refused to interact with the media.
The other accused have also reached the probe agency’s office for questioning.
Meanwhile, Crime Branch sources said the interrogation of the accused will be recorded as they suspect that the actor and others might approach the court alleging harassment during questioning.
Justice Gopinath P had directed the accused to fully cooperate with the investigation and directed them to be available for interrogation from 9 AM to 8 PM on the three days.
The court had also warned the accused that in case of non-cooperation, the interim protection from arrest will be lifted and custody will granted to the Crime Branch.
As per the India Today report, the accused who appeared before the court on Sunday, allegedly threatened investigation officers probing the case of sexual assault of an actor back in 2017.
At the crime branch office in Kalamassery, the interrogation of the case is going on. Actor Dileep arrived with his brother Anoop and brother-in-law Sooraj, who are also accused in the case. The interrogation is very important with the actor assault case trial drawing to its end.
The court also directed the public prosecutor to submit a report on the interrogation and material evidence in a sealed cover on January 27, when the matter would be heard again.
Besides Dileep, his younger brother P Sivakumar and brother-in-law T N Suraj among others were asked to present themselves for interrogation.
On January 9, police has registered a complaint on the basis of a purported audio clip of Dileep, in which the actor was heard conspiring to attack officials investigating the case, by an investigating officer.
The victim — an actor who worked in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films — was abducted and allegedly molested inside her car for two hours by some of the accused, who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017 and later escaped in a busy area.
Dileep and five others were booked under various provisions of the IPC, including Sections 116 (abetment), 118 (concealing design to commit offence), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (criminal act done by several people).
He has claimed that this apprehension was borne out of the past conduct of the complainant officer who has been trying to falsely implicate him in the sexual assault case.
The entire act was filmed by some of the accused to blackmail the actress. There are 10 accused in the case and initially, police arrested seven people. Dileep was arrested subsequently and released on bail later.
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