Kochi: The cops probing the abduction of the actor and sexual harassment case are now increasingly suspecting the involvement of a “third party” as the interrogation of Manikandan, key accused present in the actor’s car while she was allegedly sexually assaulted, told cops the victim had offered the gang “all her money” but the main accused ‘Pulsar’ Suni did not relent. Initially, the investigation team suspected that the gang led by Suni hatched the plot as a means to blackmail the actor and force her to give money. The actor too in her statement said that the accused was sending videos of the assault to some “unknown” party.
“He (Manikandan) said Suni did not heed to the request of the actor to leave her unhurt in return for all the money she had. The gang was sure she would not go to the police and even while getting out of the car, said they would call her again,” sources said. Putting together the sequence of the plot carried out by the gang on February 17, the cops said ‘Suni’ rented a tempo traveler from Chalakudy two days ago. “Suni was working as a driver for the production house of ‘Honey Bee -2’ for some time. He offered his friend Martin Antony the job of the driver on the sets provided he would follow his (Suni's) directions," they said.
On February 17, he along with his 'Tammanam (quotation) team members Manikandan and Vijesh left the Tammanam studio in the tempo traveler and headed to Chalakudy at 6 pm. They were continuously contacting Martin, who was picking up the actor from her Thrissur house to go to Ernakulam for dubbing work. "When they reached Karukutty (after Angamaly), they took a U-turn and waited for the actor's car. They then followed the car and brushed it upon reaching Karukutty by 8.45 pm. A drama was staged where Manikandan and Vijesh acted as if they were beating up driver Martin and then entered the car.
They threatened Martin to proceed further and picked up 'Vadival' Saleem and Pradeep from Kalamassery on the directions of Suni. They stopped at Palarivattom bypass and it was only then that 'Pulsar' Suni boarded it," they said.
"Driver Martin was shifted to the tempo traveler trailing behind and 'Suni' drove the vehicle through the narrow, deserted city roads for half an hour. Later Suni went to the back seat and committed the sexual assault while his two aides recorded it. Finally they left the actor in the car and escaped in the tempo-traveller while asking Martin to get into her car and drive away," they said.
