KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday allowed crime branch's plea for extending the deadline for further investigation in the actress assault case. The court has set a new deadline of July 15.
Justice Kauser Edappagath issued an order extending the deadline for the further investigation being conducted on the basis of the statement of film director Balachandra Kumar that visuals of the assault were received by actor Dileep. The actor is an accused in the case alleging that he was the mastermind behind the sexual assault on an actress in a moving vehicle in Kochi.
The deadline earlier set by the high court for the further investigation was April 15. When this time limit approached, the crime branch team conducting the further probe had approached the high court and the court had granted time until May 30.
Approaching the high court again for an extension of the deadline, the crime branch team had contended that they have to ensure that every piece of evidence is admissible before the trial court or the accused will challenge it. The quantity of material that has to be examined by the agency is huge but the agency did not object when they court set a short deadline earlier, director general of prosecution had submitted on behalf of the crime branch.
Dileep's counsel had argued that the crime branch team is only trying to delay the trial. A counsel representing the survivor had argued that the alleged leak of the visuals of the crime affects the survivor's life and a thorough investigation is a must.
The case pertains to the assault by a group of men on an actress in a moving car in Kochi on the night of February 17, 2017. The perpetrators had forced their way into the vehicle and later escaped in a busy area after the assault. The entire act was also filmed by them.
There are 10 accused in the case and police have arrested seven. Dileep was arrested during the course of the investigation and later released on bail.
