Kochi: A local court on Monday sent four accused -- Martin Antony, Pradeep, Salim aka Vadival Salim and Manikandan—to police custody till March 3 in connection with the actor abduction and sexual assault case. The Special Investigation Team will interrogate them together with the key accused Pulsar Suni and Vijesh to corroborate the statements given by the duo and throw more light on the conspiracy and attack on the actor on February 17. Earlier the four accused told the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Aluva, that Suni was the mastermind behind the abduction plot and that they had no idea about the “victim” till the last minute.
Meanwhile, the cops registered the arrest of Charlie, a native of Eratti in Kannur who was taken into custody by the cops late on Sunday, after finding that he had facilitated the stay of Suni and Vijesh at Peelamede in Coimbatore while they were hiding. During interrogation, Charlie told the police he knew Vijesh earlier and arranged the accommodation to them at Sreeram Nagar on a request by the latter. He is also suspected to have arranged a bike for the duo to escape from Coimbatore though Charlie claimed that the bike was stolen.
Meanwhile, the investigation team on Monday continued the evidence collection when they took Suni and Vijesh to Wagamon, Kolencherry and Alappuzha after completing the procedure at Coimbatore. The owner of a hotel at Wagamon identified Vijeesh who had purchased food during their stay there. However, the cops failed to recover the mobile phone or memory card used to record the assault of the actor. “We’re now awaiting the report of the scientific test on a mobile phone and a memory card seized earlier,” police said.
