Sexual assault case: High Court verdict on actor Dileep bail plea today

Kochi: The High Court on Monday will give the crucial verdict on the bail application of actor Dileep, arrested for conspiracy in the actor abduction and sexual assault case.

The actor has already served 10 days in jail and has approached the High Court after the Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate court had rejected his bail plea. The lower court had rejected the argument of the actor's counsel that there was no material evidence to implicate him and that the whole case against him was built on the basis of statement of main accused and "criminal" Sunil Kumar aka Pulsar Suni.

The prosecution opposed the bail plea strongly saying that the investigation is progressing in the right direction and that allowing him bail at this crucial juncture would affect further evidence collection, including the original phone and memory card used to record the assault of the female actor on February 17 last.

However, the SIT sources said the cops wanted to interrogate the actor again after arresting his manager Sunil Raj aka Appunni, who is currently in hiding.

According to them, Appunni "knows too much" and their joint interrogation would bring out the conspiracy part. Sources said the actor's non-cooperation was not helping the case so far and the cops plan to question him with more evidence and along with his personal side. The police also fear that upon granting bail, the actor could influence witnesses and also tamper with the evidence.