The proceedings at the Judicial first Class Magistrate Court Angamaly in connection with the abduction and sexual assault of a female actor in Kochi will be held in-camera from here onwards.
Allowing a petition by the Public Prosecutor in this direction, the court directed that members of the public be not permitted inside the courtroom while hearing the case. Soon afterwards, the court took up a bail plea by Sunil Kumar aka ‘Pulsar’ Suni, prime accused in the case and reserved its order for July 28.
Moving the petition seeking in-camera trial, the prosecution had submitted that the case was even more serious than that of the Nirbhaya case in New Delhi and pointed out that its proceedings in an open court would affect the course of investigation as well as the survivor.
To back the argument, it also cited provisions of the article 19(2) of the Constitution, which guaranteed to ensure the dignity, safety and security of a woman.
At the same time, the Chief Judicial magistrate Court in Ernakulam on Wednesday dismissed a bail application by Suni in connection with the abduction bid of a senior female actor in 2011.
Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case the other day collected statements of actor Kavya Madhavan and Shyamala Madhavan, Kavya’s mother. The interrogation followed the finding that Suni had visited the office of an online apparel store run by the actor in Kakkanad soon after the crime.
Official sources said both the woman strongly denied any connection with Suni and any role in the conspiracy to assault the actor. The police are now set to interrogate Kavya once again to bring clarity on her earlier statement.
The SIT is also learned to have collected statements of a Thammanam native, former car driver of Kavya Madhavan.
Similarly, the police may soon examine the bank accounts details of another young actor, currently residing in Kakkanad and collect her statements to ascertain if she had been used to transact money to the accused.
