Kochi: It was a Kollam-based film producer who conspired against actor Leena Maria Paul and handed over her details to gangster Ravi Pujari in the Beauty Parlour shooting case, the Crime Branch stated before a court here on Thursday.
The investigating agency submitted a new charg-esheet before the Ernakulam District sessions court adding the names of film producer Dr Ajas Ibrahim and Kasargod native Nissam (Monayi), who handed over the pistols and bullets to the first two accused in the case. The incident happened on December 15 last when two unidentified men came on bikes and opened fire outside the parlour owned by actor Leena Maria Paul at Panampilly Nagar. The Crime Branch soon arrested the duo — Bilal, 25, of Kombara in Aluva NAD, and Vipin Varghese, 30, of Thevara. One Althaaf was also later arrested in the case.
Further probe revealed the attack was arranged to threaten Paul to pay a ransom of `25 crore demanded by gangster Ravi Pujari who had allegedly called her up multiple times before and after the incident. “Ajas was residing at a flat near the parlour owned by Leena at Panampilly Nagar. It was he who told Pujari that the actor was having unaccounted money of `25 crore and conspired to attack her with the gangster,” sources said.
According to them Monayi is suspected to be a member of Pujari’s gang involved in criminal and extortion activities in Mangaluru and Kasargod. It was through him that Ajas “contacted’ Pujari, they added.
Both the accused had escaped abroad when they found that the probe agency is after them.
