Kerala police investigating insider angle in Malayalam actress Bhavana's abduction

The Kerala police is now suspecting an insider angle from the Malayalam film industry behind the conspiracy of the recent kidnapping of actress Bhavana. They questioned a leading Malayalam actor, and two sons of a senior leader of the Left Democratic Front political party in the case.

The actress was abducted on Friday night while she was on her way from Thrissur to Kochi. She was dumped near a director-turned-actor's house, from where the police were informed and her driver Martin was arrested.

The prime accused and two others involved in the abduction of the popular film actress had sought anticipatory bail in the Kerala high court even as police continue to join the dots in the case. Regarding the request for anticipatory bail by the accused, EC Poulose, counsel of prime accused Pulsar Suni, told the media here that the bail application will be moved on Tuesday.

A police team led by inspector general P Vijayan did not reveal details about the investigation but said that they have been able to track down all the accused. They have made three arrests and are keeping a close tab on the prime accused and three others.

The victim told the police that Suni committed the crime at the behest of others. Suni reportedly told her that he had been hired to kidnap her and if she resisted, he would have to use force. Suni has been a driver in the film industry for actors and others for some years. Reports suggest that the accused belong to a 'quotation mafia', a group of criminals who can be contracted for a job. 

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as well as former chief minister Oommen Chandy have told her that everything will be done to see the perpetrators are brought to justice.

The actress has been receiving endless support from the Malayalam film fraternity. Members gathered here to express their thoughts. On Monday, messages of support poured in from even the Tamil and Hindi film industries. 

Actor Prithviraj Sukuraman said he was supposed to start work with the actress in a week. But the actress has told him she would not like to face the camera so soon and "so is pulling out of the film". Sukumaran added, "If it's affected her enough to make her stay away from what she loves the most, I can only imagine how harrowing it must have been."

The main accused, Suni, has been involved in the Malayalam film industry for a long time and has had contacts with some top actors. Reports suggest that the accused was contracted after Bhavana's involvement with the argument and divorce of a certain top actor in the industry. The actress had sided with the top actor's wife in the argument. There is also the involvement of the sons of the political leader who were said to be in the process of tying up with the said actor's production company. 

For now, the police have refused to confirm any allegations and have maintained that the investigation is ongoing. 

— With inputs from IANS