[Dileep] Kerala High Court grants prosecution 10 more days to examine new witnesses in actress assault case

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday granted the prosecution 10 more days to examine the additional witnesses summoned in relation to the actress sexual assault case in which Malayalam cine actor Dileep is one of the accused [State of Kerala v Pulsar Suni].

. On January 17, the Court had allowed the prosecution to summon 5 new additional witnesses and directed it to complete the examination of witnesses within a period of 10 days.

Today, Director General of Prosecution TA Shaji informed the Court that examination of 3 witnesses have been completed but that a further period of 10 days may be necessary to examine the 2 remaining additional witnesses.

Justice Kauser Edappagath allowed the same.

" Having heard both sides, the time granted by this court to complete the examination of witnesses vide order dated Jan 17, 2022, is extended for a further period of 10 days. Learned DGP shall see that the examination of witnesses shall be completed by the extended period of 10 days from January 27, 2022," the Court said.

. Senior Advocate B Raman Pillai, appearing for Dileep, who is the eighth accused in the sexual assault case, prayed that this may be the last extension granted. The Court, instead, chose to direct the Director General of Prosecution to ensure that witness examination is completed within the stipulated time.

. The actor and his associates are being tried for hatching a conspiracy to take revenge on a female actor in the Malayalam film industry by having her abducted, sexually assaulted and photographed in a moving vehicle.

On January 3, the Investigating Officer (IO) in the case had informed the CBI Special Court that further investigation would be necessary after certain statements from a film director Balachandra Kumar.

Kumar had said that he had heard Dileep's statements that indicated the actor's intention to take revenge on the police officers investigating the case.

The trial judge ordered the IO to submit a detailed report before January 20 after completing the investigation.

. The Supreme Court had also set a deadline of February 16, 2022 for completing the trial against the actor. The State had approached the top court seeking extension of the same by 6 months which was dismissed by it on Monday.

. The actor is on trial for having plotted and executed a revenge crime against a female Malayalam actor who was kidnapped and sexually assaulted in a moving van.

It was alleged that the victim had a role to play in Dileep’s separation from his former wife. Dileep is alleged to have orchestrated the abduction of the actress, during which nude photographs of her were taken.

Dileep has also approached the Kerala High Court with a separate plea seeking to restrain the media from reporting on the trial of the case till the final verdict is pronounced.

Pertinently, Balachandra Kumar's statements led to another case being registered against Dileep for conspiring to kill police officers who were investigating a sexual assault case against him.

The investigation in that case is ongoing with the actor securing interim protection in that matter from Kerala High Court till January 27.

[Dileep] Kerala High Court grants prosecution 10 more days to examine new witnesses in actress assault case

Giti Pratap

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