Prime accused in Malayalam actress' abduction absconding
Kozhikode/Kochi
Feb 22, 2017
The prime accused in the abduction of a prominent Malayalam
actress remained absconding on Tuesday, even as state Minister for Cultural
Affairs A.K. Balan said arrests would be made in the case 'even if God
is an accused'.
The police team has still not been able to arrest Pulsar Sunil
-- a history-sheeter and one who has been a driver to many in the Malayalam
film industry.
Speaking to media in Kozhikode on Tuesday, Balan said no stone
would be left unturned in the ongoing probe.
'The film industry is a bad world and even if God is an
accused in the case, arrest will be made. The probe will also look into the
conspiracy angle besides who is behind this gang. Many told me when I took the
cinema portfolio that I would find it tough, but I will clean it up,' Balan
said.
His statement came soon after actor-turned-politician and former
Cinema Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar said in the Malayalam film industry there
is a practice of 'relying on goons to establish oneself'.
'There are several undesirable things happening in the
industry here, which I am unable to say it openly. But I will now reveal everything
I know to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This sort of happening has occurred
with others too in the film industry, but for fear of ostracism, they have remained
silent. There is an urgent need to round up the goons in Kochi,' Kumar,
a sitting legislator, said.
The actress was abducted on February 17 while travelling from
Thrissur to Kochi by road.
She was dumped near a director-turned-actor's house, from where
the police were informed and her driver Martin was arrested.
The victim told the police that Pulsar Sunil committed the
crime at the behest of others. Sunil reportedly told the actress that he had
been hired to kidnap her and if she resisted, he would have to use force.
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday posted his anticipatory bail
application for March 3, giving the police further time to arrest him and save
their face, as he was able to meet his counsel.
On Tuesday, several police officials dressed in plain clothes
waited near courts in and around Kochi to arrest the prime accused with reports
that he might come on the sly and surrender before a court.
The state BJP spokesperson M.S. Kumar told reporters in the
capital city that the prime accused was helped by state police to give the slip.
'This happened on the national highway with the knowledge
of the Home Department and hence, the combing operations did not take place
properly. This helped the accused to escape,' the BJP spokesperson said.
The police has so far arrested four persons and are keeping
a close tab on the prime accused and two others.
The police is preparing a list of people from the film industry
from whom statements would be taken as they have got call details of the prime
accused, who had contacts with several people in the industry, including a popular
actor.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that time is running
out to arrest the prime accused and people are waiting to know the truth.
'The proof that the probe is on the right track is when
results emerge, but in this case the prime accused is still at large,'
Chandy said on Tuesday at Malappuram.
Kozhikode/Kochi
Feb 22, 2017
The prime accused in the abduction of a prominent Malayalam
actress remained absconding on Tuesday, even as state Minister for Cultural
Affairs A.K. Balan said arrests would be made in the case 'even if God
is an accused'.
The police team has still not been able to arrest Pulsar Sunil
-- a history-sheeter and one who has been a driver to many in the Malayalam
film industry.
Speaking to media in Kozhikode on Tuesday, Balan said no stone
would be left unturned in the ongoing probe.
'The film industry is a bad world and even if God is an
accused in the case, arrest will be made. The probe will also look into the
conspiracy angle besides who is behind this gang. Many told me when I took the
cinema portfolio that I would find it tough, but I will clean it up,' Balan
said.
His statement came soon after actor-turned-politician and former
Cinema Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar said in the Malayalam film industry there
is a practice of 'relying on goons to establish oneself'.
'There are several undesirable things happening in the
industry here, which I am unable to say it openly. But I will now reveal everything
I know to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This sort of happening has occurred
with others too in the film industry, but for fear of ostracism, they have remained
silent. There is an urgent need to round up the goons in Kochi,' Kumar,
a sitting legislator, said.
The actress was abducted on February 17 while travelling from
Thrissur to Kochi by road.
She was dumped near a director-turned-actor's house, from where
the police were informed and her driver Martin was arrested.
The victim told the police that Pulsar Sunil committed the
crime at the behest of others. Sunil reportedly told the actress that he had
been hired to kidnap her and if she resisted, he would have to use force.
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday posted his anticipatory bail
application for March 3, giving the police further time to arrest him and save
their face, as he was able to meet his counsel.
On Tuesday, several police officials dressed in plain clothes
waited near courts in and around Kochi to arrest the prime accused with reports
that he might come on the sly and surrender before a court.
The state BJP spokesperson M.S. Kumar told reporters in the
capital city that the prime accused was helped by state police to give the slip.
'This happened on the national highway with the knowledge
of the Home Department and hence, the combing operations did not take place
properly. This helped the accused to escape,' the BJP spokesperson said.
The police has so far arrested four persons and are keeping
a close tab on the prime accused and two others.
The police is preparing a list of people from the film industry
from whom statements would be taken as they have got call details of the prime
accused, who had contacts with several people in the industry, including a popular
actor.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that time is running
out to arrest the prime accused and people are waiting to know the truth.
'The proof that the probe is on the right track is when
results emerge, but in this case the prime accused is still at large,'
Chandy said on Tuesday at Malappuram.
Tags: