The Kerala police are reportedly still undecided on whether to make Dileep the prime accused or not in the charge sheet to be filed for the Kochi actress attack case.
The police are expected to submit the additional charge sheet, implicating Dileep in the case, in the court in the next few days. However, the final draft is not ready yet as expert legal opinions vary on where to place Dileep in the charge sheet.
Earlier, reports had claimed that the police chiefs had decided to make Dileep the prime accused as he allegedly gave a 'quotation' to Pulsar Suni to sexually assault the actress and record the visuals.
Dileep seeks CBI probe into actress attack, accuses police of 'framing' him
However, after some key witnesses changed their statements in favour of Dileep recently, top officials of Kerala police are contemplating over the decision on filing the charge sheet with Dileep as the main man.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which probed the case, insists on making Dileep the prime accused to make sure he gets maximum punishment. However, the police chiefs have received legal advice that this move could backfire in court, especially under the new circumstances.
Major blow to prosecution as witness changes statement in favour of Dileep
Speculation is rife that the police are now likely to make Dileep the second accused, after Suni. Meanwhile, reports claim another legal advice the police received is to play it safe by making Dileep the seventh accused, after the perpetrators and two lawyers who had allegedly helped destroy evidence.
Dileep was arrested on charges of conspiracy in the case on July 10 and spent 85 days in the Aluva sub-jail before being let off on bail last month. Suni, who abducted and assaulted the actress in February, is the prime accused as per the existing charge sheet, while Dileep is the 11th accused.