A leading actor in Malayalam and two sons of a senior leader of a political party, which is a major constituent of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), are under police scanner in connection with abduction and sexual assault of a leading south Indian actress Bhavana, sources say.
The clues that the investigation team got point to the fact that it was at their instance a gang of seven miscreants abducted and sexually abused the actress on Friday night.
According to sources, Bhavana was very close to the actor and his wife. But as she had stood by his wife when the two had a dispute, which led to their legal separation, he fell out with her. Since then he has been vindictive to her. Highly influential in the Malayalam film industry, the actor has allegedly blocked her chances in Malayalam projects.
The sons of the political leader entered in Malayalam film industry when it recently faced a crisis following the boycott of Malayalam films by theatre owners who demanded a higher share of collection. Using their political clout, the brothers helped producers to crush the cinema owners' association. This opened them an entry into the industry, industry insiders said.
Industry sources say that the duo was exploring the possibility of financing new projects jointly with the production house of the actor. They are in negotiation with one or two producers.
Sources said that gang leader Sunil Kumar was offered Rs 50 lakh for carrying out the operation. One of the suspects who is in police custody told the investigating team that Kumar had offered Rs 30 lakh to the gang members.
Police have held three of the seven miscreants who are believed to have committed the crime. Kumar and three others are still absconding.
The actress was abducted while returning home to Kochi after a day's shoot near Thrissur on Friday evening. The gang followed her car in another vehicle and intercepted the car and a few gang members boarded it. The driver of the car was taken to the gang's vehicle.
They drove her around for over two hours in Kochi city and sexually assaulted her. The car driver then dropped her in front of a director's house and drove off. It was the director, Lal, who informed the police about the incident.
Police say that Martin, the driver of the car which the production unit sent to drop Bhavana back home, was part of the conspiracy to kidnap her. Martin and Kumar made over 40 calls and sent several text messages on the day, the police said.
The probe team headed by ADGP Sandhya , however, has not disclosed the reason that led to the crime. Police have registered a case for kidnapping, rape and criminal intimidation.
