Kerala film industry slams media for targeting actor Dileep

AMMA termed the 'trial by media' and 'attempts to character assassination' as highly deplorable and unjustified.  It is unfortunate that the mainstream media got carried away by the baseless rumours spread by online media: AMMA

Peeved by the rumours that he was behind the abduction of the popular actress in Kerala, actor Dileep has hit hard at rumour mongers and publications that gave currency to it. The film fraternity also slammed the trial by media in the case. 

Related: 'A woman hired Pulsar Suni to abduct Mollywood actress'

"Some newspapers carried reports that the police had questioned a prominent actor at his house in Aluva in connection with the abduction. The news was aimed at creating confusion. As an actor and a permanent resident of Aluva, let me clarify that I'm not the 'prominent actor'," Dileep wrote on his Facebook page. 

I'm not that 'prominent actor: Dileep

No police officer has knocked at my door so far in connection with the incident. No one came to my house in mufti (as the reports said.) No officer contacted me over the phone regarding the incident," Dileep clarified. 

AV George, Aluva Rural Superintendent of Police, told Asianet News that the police had not questioned actor Dileep. "We don't know how such reports get published," he said.

 AMMA, the organisation of Malayalam film artists and eminent directors like Kamal, have expressed solidarity with Dileep. The organisation termed the 'trial by media' and 'attempts to character assassination' as highly deplorable and unjustified. "It is unfortunate that the mainstream media got carried away by the baseless rumours spread by online media," it said. "Those who are indulging in concocted stories will have to keep their head down in shame when the truth comes out," AMMA said. 

 Media should abstain from misguiding the investigation and stop playing super cop : Kamal

"Dileep is facing a trial by media," said Kamal in a scathing attack on the publications that spread the rumours as facts. "Media should abstain from misguiding the investigation and stop playing super cop," he added. The chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy also stated that the media were attributing status of a hero to Pulsar Suni, the key suspect in the abduction case. 

Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK), the organisation of producers and film distributors, warned legal action against media outlets that spread rumours against Dileep. 

Senior actress KPAC Lalitha also refuted the rumours connecting her son and actor-director Siddharth Bharatan in the abduction case.