KERALA ACTOR ASSAULT PLANNED 30 DAYS AGO

■ DURING interrogation of the three accused held in the case on Sunday, it was revealed that gang leader ‘Pulsar Suni’ had planned to extort `30 lakh from the actor using videos of the “molestation”.

Interrogation of the three accused who have been arrested for the abduction and sexual assault of a mainstream actor revealed on Sunday that a sevenmember gang had conspired a month ago to blackmail and extort money from her.

“The interrogation revealed that a conspiracy was hatched to blackmail the actor and extort money,” Ernakulam (Rural) district police chief Mr A.V. George said. “We cannot share further details now,” he said.

The investigation team, which arrested the actor’s driver Martin Antony on Saturday, picked up ‘Vadival’ Salim, a native of Alappuzha, and Pradeep, a native of Kannur, from their hideout in Coimbatore on Sunday by tracing their mobile phones.

The duo, former roommates of the gang leader ‘Pulsar’ Suni, told the investigation team that the latter had planned to extort `30 lakh from the actor using videos of the “molestation” bid and offered money to them for their “help”.

They said Suni had asked them to join the gang from Kalamassery on February 17. “They, too, were offered money, but were not paid by Suni after the incident,” police said. Antony said Suni offered him a due share for his help.