After all the defensive posturing claiming that actor Dileep was innocent in the abduction and rape of a Malayalam actor, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has removed him from the body on Tuesday.
The newly created FEUOK (Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala) which was set up by Dileep has also removed him. The FEUOK came into being after a standoff between film distributors and theatre owners. Dileep's role in ending the crisis had won him appreciation from the film industry at the time.
The move comes after Dileep was arrested on Monday evening for his alleged role in the conspiracy which led to the abduction and sexual assault of a prominent woman actor on February 17.
The AMMA emergency meeting was convened at superstar Mammootty's residence at Panampilly Nagar in Kochi. Actors Devan, Idavela Babu, Kalabhavan Shahjon, Asif Ali, Prithviraj and Remya Nambeesan were among those who attended the meeting.
Prithviraj, who was one of the first from the industry to come out in solidarity with the assaulted actor, told the media waiting outside Mammotty's residence that he wanted to make his stand clear to AMMA. He added that he hoped AMMA would release a statement reflecting his thoughts, failing which he will tell the media what he thinks.
Remya Nambeesan, a close friend of the survivor, said that the latter would fight till the end for justice.
Earlier in the day, FEFKA, the Film Employees Federation of Kerala, also removed Dileep from the organisation.
It must be noted that these organisations had previously thrown their weight behind Dileep, absolving him of any guilt even as the police investigation was going on.
However, with the police claiming that it had got "irrefutable evidence" linking the actor to the conspiracy, the removal of Dileep became unavoidable.