Abduction case: Dileep questioned for 12 hours, may be summoned again

Kerala police questioned actor Dileep and his friend and director Nadirshah in the case of the abduction and assault of a popular actress. This is the first time that a Malayalam actor is undergoing interrogation for such a long period. Indeed, Police said that they would be summoned again if necessary.  

A senior police officer said the questioning was done so as to not give a 'clean chit' to anyone. "The statements were recorded as part of the investigation", said the officer, who is part of the investigation team. The statement was recorded after they were summoned at the Aluva Police Club yesterday by a team of officials headed by ADGP B Sandhya, who is investigating the case.

Besides Dileep and Nadirshah, police also recorded the statement of the actor's manager, who had received a alleged threating call from the prime accused 'Pulsar Suni'.

The over 12-hour long procedure began at 12.30 pm yesterday and concluded at 1.05 am. "All issues related to the case were discussed", Dileep said after emerging from the Police Club. 

The actor said that police recorded his detailed statement on his complaint on April 20 alleging blackmail by a man, who claimed to be a friend of the prime accused in the case of abduction and assault of the South Indian actress. "I am very confident", he said.

The investigation is progressing very well", the actor said, adding it was his need to see that the truth was revealed in the case. Dileep also said that he would attend the crucial general body meeting of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), in which the issue is expected to be discussed. 

Before heading to the police club at nearby Aluva yesterday, Dileep had alleged that some people were making efforts to make him an accused in the case.  

"That is not going to happen," he had said. Dileep had also said he does not have time to sit for "media trial by some persons". "I will tell the police and in the court whatever I want to say ," he had said.  

The actor had earlier said that he filed the complaint with the Director General of Police along with evidence of blackmailing, allegedly with the knowledge of 'Pulsar' Suni. Nadirshah had on June 24 said that a man named Vishnu, claiming to be Suni's friend, had called him seeking ₹1.5 crore from the actor.

He had said that Vishnu, who claimed to have shared a cell with Suni in jail, told him that some people in the Malayalam film industry had offered money to the accused if he stated during questioning that Dileep was a conspirator in the case. Nadirshah had also claimed that Vishnu had offered to give him money for helping to trap Dileep in the case.

Six persons, including 'Pulsar' Suni, Martin and Vigeesh have been arrested in connection with the incident. The actress, who has worked in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films, was abducted and allegedly molested inside her car for two hours by the accused, who had forced their way into the vehicle on February 17 night and later escaped in a busy area in Kochi.

(With inputs from PTI)

• Dileep
• interrogation
• actor abduction