Bekal police has arrested MLA KB Ganesh Kumar’s office secretary Pradeep Kumar Kottathala in the 2017 actress assault case on Tuesday morning.
It is learnt that Pradeep was taken into custody from the MLA’s office after Vipin Lal, a witness turned approver in the case, filed a complaint stating that Pradeep was threatening him.
Pradeep had filed a bail plea but it was rejected by the Kasaragod sessions court. The prosecution had argued that the accused must be taken into custody for evidence collection since the investigation was in the primary stage to which the court agreed.
According to reports, Pradeep had tried to influence Vipin into turning hostile in the actress assault case. Earlier in January of this year, Pradeep had visited a Kasaragod jewellery shop where Vipin’s uncle worked and through him, got in touch with Vipin’s mother, asking the approver to turn hostile and demanded that Vipin must give a statement in support of actor Dileep, who is also an accused in this case. Vipin refused to give in to Pradeep’s demand.
Subsequently in September, Vipin started receiving threats letters and calls which led to Viping filing a complaint with the police. After the case was filed, police started going through the jewellery shop’s CCTV footage. Through the CCTV footage, the police identified Pradeep and a report was filed which pointed out that Pradeep had tried to persuade Vipin to turn hostile in the case.
MLA Ganesh Kumar has informed that Pradeep’s services as office secretary has been terminated and the MLA declared that no statement will be issued on this matter.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the Kerala High Court had dismissed the plea put forward by the victim of the actress assault case and the state to change the trial court, citing “bias” and “hostility”. The HC removed the stay on the trial court and ordered that the proceedings resume from Monday. However, another twist in the case has presented itself. Special Prosecutor A Suresan, attached to the case, has sent his resignation letter to the State Home Secretary.
On the night February 17, 2017, a south Indian actress was kidnapped and assaulted in her car by a group of men. The whole incident was recorded on camera so that the accused could later blackmail the actress.
