Dileep files complaint over actress attack claims

Malayalam superstar Dileep has filed a complaint with the Kerala police seeking an investigation into a campaign against him on social media in connection with the recent assault on a leading actress in a moving car in Kochi.A day after the dramatic arrest of the alleged molester, now in judicial custody, Dileep said he was deliberately being dragged into the controversy by portraying him to be the plot conspirator.Though no police officer has contacted him, Dileep claims that so-called online news portals were abuzz with conspiracy theories claiming he masterminded the attack on the actress due to professional rivalry.There were reports that the two were not on good terms and the actress, a close friend of his former wife Manju Warrier, had to keep away from the Malayalam film industry and concentrate on Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films.Earlier Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan too tried to dispel rumours of alleged ‘external involvement’ in the case.“I understand Pulsar Suni (whom the police arrested from a court while trying to surrender) planned everything. The police won’t go after any imaginary culprit,” Vijayan said in Kozhikode yesterday.“It’s not proper on the part of the media to spread rumours about the involvement of anyone else. There is no indication of any such plot,” he added.Dileep’s mentor and director Kamal and many others have also come forward to defend him. They stressed that all those who personally knew the actor would never believe the rumour-mongers. Kamal admitted that professional “issues” did exist between the two stars.“The pain the media reports inflicted on Dileep has been immense,” said actor-director Lal. Incidentally it was Lal to whom the actress turned to for help after her harrowing ordeal last Friday.“He was restless until the culprit was in police custody. I have never seen him so disturbed,” he said. Lal said he was also upset that producer Anto Joseph, who arrived to help the actress after he was called by local legislator P T Thomas, had been dragged into the controversy with some media reports alleging his role in the crime.Joseph had called Suni on his phone in a bid to trace the accused’s location. He had then handed over the phone to the police. However, this was later misinterpreted and he was made out to be a party in the conspiracy by some section of the media.“Joseph stood by the actress throughout that night and into the next morning taking her for medical examinations and completing other formalities. Now he will  think twice before rushing to help anybody,” Lal lamented.Without naming actor-turned-politician K B Ganesh Kumar, Lal ridiculed allegations that the new crop of Kochi filmmakers were engaging the underworld, pushing drugs and brokering land deals. Kumar had made these claims while speaking to the media immediately after the attack. “If these allegations were true they would not have made such fantastic films winning a lot of recognitions nationally and internationally,” countered Lal.“They are all very good professionals which many old timers find hard to digest. These critics should end beating about the bush and say on which sets they do drugs,” Lal dared.Lal said he had kept away from the media as he did not want to reveal what the victim told him or the police. Lal said he had called the police chief at 11.15pm and the police had immediately responded. Lal added he had stopped the actress’ driver, Martin, and handed him over to the police.Lal’s production unit had sent the car to Thrissur to pick up the actress from her home on her request as she wanted to stay overnight at actor Remya Nambeesan’s home in Kochi.Meanwhile, the police produced Suni and his accomplice before an Aluva magistrate. The duo have been remanded him in judicial custody for two weeks. The police said they would move the court for their custody on Saturday.