ALLEGATIONS OF CONSPIRACY IN KERALA ACTOR ASSAULT CASE

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police have launched an overarching investigation into the alleged abduction and molestation of a popular Malayalam filmstar, amid swirling speculation that her rivals hired contract criminals to stage the crime and ruin her career.

The conspiracy theories gained ground after three fugitive suspects, including alleged lynchpin Sunil Kumar alias Pulsar Suni, approached the Kerala high court on Monday for anticipatory bail.

They pleaded innocent and alleged that police were “hounding them” without a reason. The court will hear their bail petition on Tuesday.

The popular actor was allegedly taken hostage on the way from Thrissur to Kochi on Friday and molested for by a seven-member gang. The criminals took pictures and videos to blackmail her before letting her go.

The 30-year-old actor, who had worked in more than 75 movies in several southern languages since debuting as a teenager, was returning home from a film shoot.

Her driver, Martin Anthony, and two more men were arrested in the past two days for the crime, but the mastermind and his associates are still at large.