Malayalam actress sexual assault case: Kerala HC dismisses actor Dileep's plea for CBI probe
Kochi, Dec 19: The Kerala High Court Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by noted Malayalam actor Dileep, an accused in the case of abduction and sexual assault of an actress in February 2017, seeking a CBI probe into the case.
Dismissing the plea, Justice Sunil Thomas observed that the allegations levelled by the actor need to be proved during trial in the sessions court.
Police have investigated the case and filed the charge sheet. The trial of the case is going on, the court said and pointed out that no materials have been placed before it to warrant a CBI investigation.
In his petition, Dileep alleged that the Special Investigation Team of Kerala police had carried out a "sham, unfair, biased, motivated and partisan investigation" in the case.
He alleged that the SIT accepted as the "gospel truth", false charges and fabricated lies provided by the accused persons arrested in connection with executing the crime.
The actor submitted that the truth can be brought out through an investigation by an independent agency, which is not controlled by the state police.
The prosecution opposed the plea, alleging that the actor was adopting delaying tactics.
Dileep was arrested on July 10, 2017 and let out on bail on October 3 after 85 days in custody. The Kerala High Court had granted him bail with stringent conditions.
Seven persons, including key accused 'Pulsar' Suni, were arrested in connection with the actress abduction case.
The actress, who has worked in 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 the night of February 17, 2017 and later escaped in a busy area.
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Conspiracy afoot to 'tarnish' image of Dharmasthala: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Aug 14 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said there was a “conspiracy” to tarnish the image of Dharmasthala.
His comments come amid an ongoing investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into serious allegations of mass burials in the revered temple town in Dakshina Kannada district.
“A conspiracy is being hatched to destroy hundreds of years of legacy. It is not correct to tarnish someone just like that. It has all happened due to one complainant,” he said.
Noting that some Congress MLAs have called for action against those involved in the slander campaign at the legislature party meeting, he said, “ I have told them that action must be taken against those who are indulging in a slander campaign. The CM has also said that action must be taken against such people.”
“I have information on this case. Religious feelings should not be hurt in any manner. Culprits must be punished,” he told reporters, according to a release from his office.
Responding to a question, Shivakumar said the Congress party will not allow the image of any religious place to be tarnished.
“We see everyone equally when it comes to religion,” he added.
The SIT, formed by the state government, is probing claims of mass murder, rape, and mass burials in Dharmasthala over the past two decades.
The complainant, a former sanitation worker whose identity has not been revealed, alleged that between 1995 and 2014 he was forced to handle bodies—including women and minors—and that some showed signs of sexual assault. He has given a statement before a magistrate.
As part of the probe, the SIT has been conducting exhumations at multiple locations identified by the complainant-witness in the forested areas along the banks of the Netravathi River in Dharmasthala, where some skeletal remains have been found at two sites so far.
