While actor-producer Vijay Babu, who is facing rape charges registered by the Kerala police, has allegedly fled to Dubai, the probe authorities are mulling steps to see if his passport can be cancelled, to get his custody to interrogate him.
In a related development, the actors body AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes) in which Vijay Babu is an office bearer, is meeting in Kochi on Sunday to discuss the issue.
The police suspect that he is presently in the UAE.
According to Kochi Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju, there was no laxity on the part of the probe team, which allowed him to escape. He also said that if required, they might even travel abroad to take him into custody.
"The complaint was received on 22 April and a case was registered. What he should do is to appear before the probe team. We have already served a notice at his house. A decision will be taken to see what can be done," said Nagaraju.
Meanwhile, the High Court after hearing his anticipatory bail plea on Friday, posted the case to be heard after the summer recess.
On Thursday, the police issued a lookout notice for the actor in connection with the rape case, which means if he lands at any port of entry in the country, he could be arrested.
In his anticipatory bail petition, Babu had claimed that the actress was trying to blackmail him.
The actor said he has all the evidence, including chat messages between him and the complainant, to prove his innocence and is ready to submit it before the court too.
Babu, according to the police, is on the run after a female colleague, hailing from Kozhikode, filed a complaint in Ernakulam on 22 April that she was raped and beaten up by him a few times at a flat in Kochi.
Soon after the news surfaced, Babu appeared live on his social media handle on Wednesday, claiming that he was the "real victim" in this case, adding that he would take appropriate legal steps against the complainant, whom he also named.
The police, apart from her complaint, have registered a second case against the actor for disclosing the name of the complainant.
The victim also alleged that the actor got her intoxicated before sexually abusing her.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)