Crime Branch interrogates Kavya Madhavan in actor assault case
The Hindu
The Crime Branch decided to question Kavya Madhavan at her residence in view of the deadline set by the Kerala High Court to complete the probe
The Crime Branch started questioning actor Kavya Madhavan, wife of actor Dileep, at their residence in Aluva at 12 p.m. on May 9 as part of the effort to wrap up the investigation into the 2017 actor assault case before the May 31 deadline set by the Kerala High Court.
The investigation team is being led by Mohanachandran, Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch, and DySP Baiju Poulose.
The Crime Branch had to reach the residence of Ms. Madhavan after she refused to turn up for questioning at the Aluva Police Club despite receiving notice earlier. The investigation team had pointed out that her interrogation as a witness is crucial in the actor assault case.
Ms. Madhavan had insisted on being questioned in the familiar environs of her husband’s house.
Her lawyers reportedly took refuge in Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, according to which women, children and elderly persons roped in as witnesses should be questioned at their residence.
However, the investigation team found it problematic at many levels, not the least because of the fact that Dileep, the eighth accused in the case, lives in the same house.
Logistical issues were also cited as audio-video clips and statements of witnesses would have to be used during the interrogation for which separate arrangements would have to be made.