Malayalam actress molestation case: Dileep sacked from AMMA after being remanded in judicial custody

Popular actor Dileep was today remanded in judicial custody and later expelled from a body of Malayalam artistes Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a day after he was arrested in connection with the alleged abduction and assault of a South Indian actress here in February.

The 48-year-old Dileep, charged with conspiracy in the sensational case, was sent to 14 days judicial custody by a court in Angamaly near here this morning.

After being remanded, Dileep was shifted to a jail in Aluva, which is also his hometown.

Hundreds of people assembled outside the residence of the Angamaly magistrate and booed and raised slogans against the actor.

Similar scenes were witnessed outside the Aluva sub-jail.

Noted lawyer K Ramkumar, who appeared for Dileep, said the actor has been charged under Section 120(B) of IPC (conspiracy), but claimed he had been framed in the case.

He said a bail application has been moved in the court and it was likely to be considered tomorrow.

Police said there was no instruction from the magistrate to provide any special facilities to Dileep in jail.

The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) held an emergency executive meeting and removed Dileep from its primary membership.

Dileep was the Treasurer of the AMMA, which also pledged its support to the actress, Malayalam superstar Mammootty told reporters here.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram asserted that those committing any offence, whoever they may be, would be brought to book.

"In this case, right from the start, the accused had been nabbed swiftly. If anyone else is involved, they will also be brought before the law. They will be nabbed for sure," he said.

The chief minister said his government had asked the former, the interim and the present DGPs to ensure proper investigation in the case.

The actor was also expelled from a number of film organisations, including FEFKA Directors Union, another key body in Malayalam cinema.

Mammootty, who attended the AMMA meeting here, said the organisation stood by the victim and it will continue to extend all support to her in her fight seeking justice.

"We are always with our sister. We have extended our support to her from the very beginning itself. We will stand by the victim," he said.

Mammootty and superstar Mohanlal had faced flak for their "silence" over the issue during a press conference of AMMA held here recently.

The sacking of Dileep also came as embarrassment for the ruling LDF, whose Lok Sabha member and AMMAs president Innocent and two actor-turned MLAs, Mukesh and K B Ganeshkumar, had publicly defended the actor last week.

The AMMA meeting also condemned alleged derogatory comments made against the actress by some film stars.

Dileep was arrested last evening on charges of criminal conspiracy in executing the abduction and assault of the actress, who has worked in Tamil and Telugu films also.

She was allegedly abducted and molested inside her car for two hours by the accused, who had forced their way into the vehicle on February 17 night and later escaped in a busy area here.

Dileeps arrest came after police questioned him and his director friend Nadirshah on June 29 and yesterday in view of certain revelations by prime accused Pulsar Suni.

Police said the actor had been arrested based on evidence gathered during the process of investigation.