Connect with us
Tuesday,28-July-2026
Breaking News

Crime

Actor Dileep case: Prosecution moves Kerala HC for custody of mobile phones

Published

on

The prosecution, in the case where actor Dileep is alleged to have conspired to do away with the investigating officers in the actress abduction case, approached the Kerala High Court on Friday, stating that the actor was not cooperating with the Crime Branch probe team and is refusing to hand over his mobile phones, as part of the investigation.

The prosecution submitted an application accusing Dileep and his men of attempting to destroy critical evidence in the ongoing investigation.

It was added that although the accused made themselves available for the interrogation as directed by the court, they refused to hand over the mobile phones which they used prior to January 2022 to the investigating officers.

The court was firm on its opinion that the actor should hand over the phones to the investigating officer and even asked if he does not have faith and confidence in the court.

Counsel for the actor, however, pointed that his phone contains private conversations with his first wife (actress Manju Warrier) and others and the prosecution might infringe on his privacy by giving out his personal talks with others also.

Counsel also argued that the prosecution had no material to prove the case and that it was “embarking on a witch hunt”.

Aasked to surrender the phones, Dileep’s lawyers denied to do so taking a stand that notice under Section 91 is not maintainable and that the mobile phones were sent for forensic examination through their lawyers to retrieve crucial information with regards to the talk that he had with Balachandrakumar, a director and one who spilled the beans that Dileep was conspiring to do away with the investigating officers, and wanted it to be used as his piece of evidence that the director was blackmailing him.

The court then pointed out that it is not Dileep who should be sending phones for examinations.

The court then decided to hold a special sitting on Saturday to decide if Dileep should surrender his phones to the investigating agency.

On Friday, the probe team also called Balachandrakumar and officials said it was part of clarifying certain things which he had raised and which led to the fresh case.

Incidentally this development took place a day after Dileep’s anticipatory bail plea which has been hanging fire for a few weeks was decided to be taken up on next Wednesday by the Kerala High Court.

The court also ruled that the actor should not be arrested till then.

Apart from Dileep, his brother Anoop, brother-in-law Sooraj, aide Appu alias Krishnadas, and close friend Byju Chengamanad are those who were interrogated for 33 hours early this week over three days.

Popular because of the comic characters he plays on screen, Dileep has been in the news for the wrong reasons after a frontline South Indian heroine complained that she had been abducted and sexually assaulted by a gang of goons in 2017 and certain scenes were filmed to blackmail her.

After the main accused Sunil was arrested and questioned, the prosecution charged Dileep with being the main conspirator in the case and he was arrested. He spent two months in prison before getting bail and the trial has been going on.

Crime

Odisha: Drug-addicted son kills father after argument over de-addiction medication

Published

on

Bhubaneswar, July 28: Within 24 hours of the gruesome murder of a woman allegedly by her husband in the Chakeisiani area under Mancheswar police station limits, another brutal killing occurred in the same police station area of Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, with a 50-year-old man allegedly beaten to death by his drug-addicted son.

Police identified the victim as S. Duryadhan (50), while the accused, S. Debaraj (25), is his only son.

The deceased Duryadhan worked as a labour contractor.

Upon being informed, the police along with the scientific team immediately reached the crime spot and launched an investigation into the case.

Speaking to reporters, Biswaranjan Senapati, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone V), said, “Preliminary investigation suggests that Debaraj killed his father following a dispute over his drug use.”

He also added that accused son was a habitual brown sugar addict and had earlier been admitted to a de-addiction centre by his father.

“Following medical advice, Duryodhan used to mix the prescribed de-addiction medicine into a bidi and ask his son to smoke it whenever he would ask for any normal cigarette or bidi. However, Debaraj disliked the arrangement and frequently engaged in heated arguments with his father over the issue,” Senapati said.

The ACP said a heated argument over the issue erupted on Monday night, forcing the accused’s mother and other family members to leave the house out of fear.

According to Senapati, only the father and son were at home on Tuesday morning when they again got into an argument after the victim offered his son a bidi containing the prescribed medicine, while the latter demanded a regular bidi.

Meanwhile, the accused suddenly went into a fury after Duryadhan insisted and attacked the victim with an iron pipe. He later bludgeoned his father with a stone.

“The family members also told us that the accused has a brain tumour and often gets furious all of a sudden. He has been detained at the police station and will be produced before the court later,” Senapati added.

Continue Reading

Crime

EOU conducts simultaneous raids in Jamui in Benami assets probe linked to Zila Parishad chairperson

Published

on

Patna, July 28: The Bihar Economic Offences Unit (EOU) on Tuesday carried out simultaneous raids at multiple locations in Jamui as part of an investigation into alleged benami (proxy-owned) assets linked to Zila Parishad Chairperson Dulari Devi and her husband Guddu Yadav.

The operation was still underway at the time of filing this report.

According to an official, the EOU launched coordinated searches at the residences of Dulari Devi, Guddu Yadav, and four to five of their close associates.

The raids have attracted significant attention across the district.

The search operation is being conducted at several locations, including Guddu Yadav’s in-laws’ residence in Damarkola village under the Khaira police station area, his residence at the district headquarters, and the official Zila Parishad residence.

Investigators are examining documents, financial records, property-related papers, and other materials relevant to the probe.

Preliminary information indicates that the raids are part of an investigation into allegations of benami assets.

However, the EOU has not yet issued an official statement detailing the basis of the searches or the scope of the investigation.

The operation was continuing when this report was filed, and it remains unclear whether any incriminating documents, cash, valuables, or other evidence have been recovered.

Officials are expected to release further details after the search operation is completed.

Earlier on June 11, the EOU had conducted another raid at the properties of Manish Kumar — an accountant working at the Hajipur Municipal Council office in Vaishali — for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Preliminary investigations have revealed evidence of assets worth approximately Rs 2.02 crore in excess of his income.

According to the EOU, a case (Case No. 10/26, dated June 10, 2026) was registered against Manish Kumar at the Economic Offences Unit police station following the verification of information received from reliable sources.

The case has been registered under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018).

Continue Reading

Crime

Delhi: Anti-narcotics squad busts illicit liquor stockpoint, arrests bootlegger with 16 cartons of Haryana-mark liquor

Published

on

New Delhi, July 28: The Anti-Narcotics Squad of South District Police has achieved a major success by apprehending a bootlegger and seizing a large quantity of Haryana-mark illicit liquor from his possession and residence in Sangam Vihar. A total of 16 cartons of liquor, including country liquor, whisky, and beer meant for sale only in Haryana, were recovered during the operation.

Following the seizure, a case was registered under the Delhi Excise Act. FIR No. 293/2026, dated July 24, under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act, was lodged at Police Station Sangam Vihar.

The operation was carried out by a team comprising Head Constable Manish, Head Constable Jaldhari, Head Constable Mukesh, Head Constable Jaiveer, and Constable Lokesh under the leadership of Inspector Mahender Dahiya, In-Charge of the Anti-Narcotics Squad. The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of ACP/Operations, South District, Rituraj.

According to police, on July 24, the Anti-Narcotics Squad received specific Intelligence regarding the illegal storage and sale of Haryana-mark liquor in the Sangam Vihar area. Acting promptly on the information, the team laid a trap near F-2nd Block, Sangam Vihar, and apprehended the accused, identified as Ajay, while he was allegedly found in possession of illicit liquor outside his residence.

Subsequently, a search of the accused’s house led to the recovery of a substantial quantity of illegal liquor. The entire consignment was seized, and the accused was arrested after completing all necessary legal formalities. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the liquor and identify others involved in the supply network.

During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused had allegedly stocked Haryana-mark liquor at his residence and was supplying it illegally in Delhi for financial gain while violating the provisions of the Delhi Excise Act.

The arrested accused has been identified as Ajay (42), son of Chhotu Lal, a resident of F-2nd Block, Sangam Vihar, New Delhi. Police records show that he was previously involved in a similar case registered under the Delhi Excise Act at Sangam Vihar Police Station.

The recovered liquor included 321 quarters (six cartons) of Masaledar Desi Sharab marked “For Sale in Haryana Only”, 227 quarters (five cartons) of whisky, 36 bottles (three cartons) of beer, and 47 beer cans (two cartons). In total, 16 cartons of Haryana-mark illicit liquor were seized during the operation.

Police officials said the Intelligence-based action has dealt a significant blow to the illegal liquor trade in the area. Efforts are continuing to trace the source of the contraband, dismantle the supply chain, and identify other individuals involved in the racket.

Continue Reading

Trending