[Actress assault] Kerala High Court seeks State’s response on plea by survivor-actress alleging foul play in probe

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the State Prosecution to file its response to the petition moved by the survivor-actress in the 2017 sexual assault case, alleging foul play in the investigation into the sensational case [xxx v State of Kerala].Justice Ziyad Rahman AA also orally directed the petitioner's counsel to add the accused cine actor Dileep in the crime to the party array as the outcome of the instant petition may affect their right to a fair and speedy trial as well. .In her plea, filed through advocate TB Mini, the survivor has alleged that the Government of Kerala, which had initially supported her cause and even taken credit for the fair investigation, has now backtracked from its constitutional and legal commitment of conducting a free fair and complete investigation."The petitioner bonafide apprehends that the eighth accused, Sri.Gopalakrishan P alias Dileep, who is highly influential, directly and through his related sources has unlawfully influenced some of the politicians in the ruling front and is attempting to interfere with the investigation in this case and prematurely close the same," the plea said..At the hearing today, Director General of Prosecution, Senior Advocate TA Shaji, vehemently opposed this claim and contended that the State government as well as the prosecution have always taken steps to ensure a fair investigation. He argued that he had even taken the survivor's views on appointing a new special public prosecutor for the trial at the Sessions Court after the previous prosecutor resigned in December 2021. "There is no quarrel that victim can be involved in any stage of the case. From the very beginning we have involved them. I was asked to appoint special prosecutor of intelligence and calibre by the CM...Two days back victim approached me through her lawyer and suggested a name and that very moment I telephoned some sources to verify the credentials. But the narrative on the public domain is to the contrary,” Shaji said. .The survivor also contended that the visuals of the assault suffered by the her was leaked even though the same was stored in a memory card that was with the court which is conducting the trial in the case.Further, it was alleged that even though the Forensic Science Lab submitted a report confirming the illegal leak, the presiding officer of the trial court has not taken any action or permitted the court staff to be interviewed by the investigating officer.In response to this, Shaji suggested that the Court may seek a report from the Sessions Court itself as the Prosecution had moved a plea to investigate the leak in April. "We only ask that this not be made political, that is all", Shaji concluded..The Court will consider the matter next on Friday, May 27, by which time the prosecution is expected to file a statement. .Read more about the plea and the history of the sexual assault case here.