Thiruvananthapuram: The special investigation team probing into the honey trapping of former minister A.K. Saseendran carried out a search at Mangalam Television office here on Sunday, but could not seize the records of the controversial conversation.
Though all the nine accused in the case, including chief executive officer R Ajith Kumar, were earlier summoned to the Crime Branch office on Sunday, they sought more time. Hence they were asked to appear before the investigation team on Monday. There were also reports that the accused would file plea for anticipatory bail on Monday.
According to sources, a team led by investigation officer E.S. Bijumon carried out the search at Mangalam Television office near Thampanoor. None of the accused was present at the office at that time. The investigation team collected statements from technical staff at the channel on the steps involved in telecasting the audio conversation.
The team could not recover the minister's audio records from the office. However, the team had already collected the audio files of the conversation that were available online.
Meanwhile, state police chief Loknath Behera told a section of media that the probe was progressing and necessary steps including arrest of the accused would be initiated by the team.
According to the first information report of the case filed against the nine accused on the basis of a complaint filed by Nationalist Youth Congress state president Mujeeb Rehuman, the accused hatched a criminal conspiracy for the marketing of the channel and thereby with the intention of defaming former transport minister A.K. Saseendran aired the obscene conversation and uploaded it on Facebook.
