The Kerala High Court has granted Malayalam film actor Dileep, and four others, protection from arrest until Wednesday, 2 February in the case regarding the alleged conspiracy to kill six police officials who have been investigating the case, as reported by Indian Express.
The court also posted the anticipatory bail pleas for hearing on next Wednesday. This reportedly came after the prosecution sought more time to analyse “digital evidences” the Crime Branch has gathered so far.
The Crime Branch had questioned Dileep and others in conspiracy case for over three days since last Sunday.
Witness Examination
On 25 January, the Kerala High Court had granted the prosecution an additional 10 days to wrap up the examination of witnesses before the trial court in the assault case, as reported by LiveLaw.
Earlier, the High Court had permitted the State to summon five more witnesses, of which three have already been interrogated.
Having heard both sides, the time granted by this court to complete the examination of witnesses vide order dated 17 January, 2022, is extended for a or 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 27 January, 2022Justice Kauser Edappagath
The initial order is set to expire on 27 January.
On 24 January, the Supreme Court had rejected a plea by the Kerala government seeking more time to complete the trial in the assault case.
A bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar left it to the discretion of the trial court to take an appropriate decision. The bench said that it would consider the plea if the trial judge asked for more time.
The deadline to conclude the trial is 16 February 2022.
The 2017 Assault Case
In February 2017, a popular Malayalam actor was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving car in Kerala's Kochi. The trial was nearing completion in December 2021 when startling allegations against Dileep, the prime accused in the case, surfaced, sending the investigation into a new direction.
A criminal conspiracy case was registered against Dileep, on 21 January 2022, after several audio clips came to light, in which the actor and one of his relatives allegedly appear to be conspiring to kill six police officials who have been investigating the case.
(With inputs from LiveLaw and The Indian Express.)
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