The Special Investigation Team probing the kidnap and sexual assault of a Malayalam woman actor approached the Anagamaly judicial first-class magistrate on Saturday seeking restrictions on the number of visitors wanting to meet actor Dileep, an accused in the case, who has been housed at the Aluva sub-jail.
The move was prompted by actor turned MLA KB Ganesh Kumar’s impromptu press conference outside the sub-jail premises a few days ago, where he nearly exonerated Dileep in the case. The SIT is worried that this could prejudice the ongoing probe in the case, reports Times of India.
The Angamaly magistrate has directed a detailed inquiry after hearing the prosecution’s plea and sought details of Dileep’s visitors from the jail superintendent, the report says.
Advocates connected to the prosecution also pointed out that only close relatives like spouse, parents and children can visit an accused in the jail, that too only on certain days, according to the jail manual.
The report quotes an officer of SIT, “There are media visuals of actors and other film industry people going inside the jail, some were even carrying cell phones with them. These visits to Dileep need to be investigated.” The jail authorities have since restricted the number of visitors to Dileep.
Ganesh has been supporting Dileep ever since he was grilled by the police in the case. Ganesh, also the vice president of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, at the press meet had urged members of the Malayalam film industry to express solidarity with Dileep.
All those who received benefits from Dileep, those outside and inside the film industry, must come in support of him, Ganesh had urged.
Ganesh had shouted at media persons at a press conference followed the General Body meeting of AMMA in June, days before Dileep was arrested, when they asked about Amma’s decision on the issue, since the woman actor is also a part of the Malayalam industry. Along with another actor-MLA Mukesh, Ganesh had pointed his fingers menacingly at reporters.
During Onam days, some of the actors and film makers in the industry including Ganesh and Dileep’s close friend Nadirsha, who was also interrogated in the case, had visited the actor in jail.
“Nadirsha receive several phone calls in connection with the case. He is an important witness. He has also moved for an anticipatory bail in the High Court, a few days after meeting the accused in jail,” a top police official said, TOI report says.