Facing criticism over his statement that there was no conspiracy in the abduction and alleged rape of a Malayalam actor recently, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has now backtracked on his statement.
“Clarifying” that he had not ruled out the possibility of a conspiracy angle, the CM said on Sunday that he had only asked the media not to speculate on the matter.
Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Pinarayi said that he had based his remark purely on a newspaper report and not on official information.
I saw a newspaper report while attending a function and I was quoting that report while speaking at the function. But the opposition, including the opposition leader, got hold of it to make it a big controversy.Pinarayi Vijayan
According to reports, the CM added that the investigation team will probe into the case and said that the media must not jump the gun.
Earlier on Friday, just a day after the prime accused in the case, Pulsar Suni, and another accused Vijeesh were arrested by the police, the CM, in a function held in Kozhikode, said that Suni had hatched a plan to attack the actor.
“He framed the whole incident himself. The prime accused had a clear idea as to how to execute the crime,” the CM said.
Following this, the opposition slammed Pinarayi for his statement, saying that it could affect the probe.
Responding to the CM's remark, KPCC President VM Sudheeran had said,
"Through this statement by Vijayan, the intentions are clear that he wants to close the case and fix the crime on those arrested. The prime accused has already gone on record to state that he was hired, and now, when the Chief Minister says that there is no conspiracy, there are doubts that come up.
Meanwhile, the investigating team took Pulsar Suni and Vijeesh to Peelamedu in Coimbatore on Sunday, for collection of evidence. Police visited the house in which the duo had stayed undercover following the crime.
(The article was originally published on The News Minute. )
(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.)