The main accused in the abduction and molestation of a popular Malayalam actor was arrested in Kochi on Thursday as he tried to sneak into a judge’s chamber to surrender.
There was a heavy police presence in the court premises but Sunil Kumar, alias Pulsar Suni, and his aide, Vijesh, also an accused, managed to reach the chamber of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) unnoticed, sources said.
The CJM was out for lunch. As Kumar and Vijesh tried to get out, police nabbed them.
Their lawyers alleged that they were pulled out of the chamber by policemen in plain clothes.
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Kumar, said sources, was taken away to an undisclosed destination for questioning in the case that again raised questions about the safety of women in the country.
The 30-year-old actor, who has worked in more than 75 movies, was allegedly abducted on the way from Thrissur to Kochi on February 17 and molested by a seven-member gang.
{{/usCountry}}The 30-year-old actor, who has worked in more than 75 movies, was allegedly abducted on the way from Thrissur to Kochi on February 17 and molested by a seven-member gang.
{{/usCountry}}In her complaint, the actor said Sunil Kumar told her to “co-operate” as they were doing a “quotation work”. He also threatened to inject her with drugs and take her to a secret hideout, she said.
The “quotation mafia” is the Kerala equivalent of “supari” gangs – criminals for hire. It is unclear who hired the gang but accusations are that the motive was to derail the actor’s career.