KPAC Lalitha. File photoThrissur: The CPM-led Kerala government has been highlighting the arrest of actor Dileep in connection with the February 17 actress attack case as a sign of its uncompromising stance against the perpetrators of violence against women. However, veteran actor and CPM supporter KPAC Lalitha has put the ruling party in the dock by visiting Dileep in the Aluva sub-jail on Saturday.
Lalitha's jail visit puts the CPM in trouble as she is also the chairperson of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy under the government. The actor, who met Dileep in jail, was yet to meet the victim of the brutal attack. Both Lalitha and the victim hail from Thrissur.
Lalitha's decision to visit Dileep in jail has reportedly provoked women leaders of the CPM. Some cultural activists have also questioned Lalitha saying she should have restrained from showing the personal bond with Dileep as she was occupying a top government post.
The campaign in social media that Lalitha was with the predator and not the prey also causes headache to the party.
The CPM had ousted a local leader at Wadakkanchery, Lalitha's native, when a rape accusation was raised against him. Now it has yet to be seen how the party would handle the row over Lalitha's jail visit.
Lalitha was considered as the CPM's candidate in Wadakkancherry constituency in the last Assembly polls. However, the party backtracked on the move following stiff opposition from the local leadership.
Earlier, K.B. Ganesh Kumar, MLA, who won from Pathanapuram with the backing of the CPM-led LDF also had visited Dileep in jail. He had also declared support to his co-actor saying he would stand by as the court has not found him guilty.
Meanwhile, the First Class Judical Magistrate Court in Angamaly on Monday rejected Dileep's bail plea for the second time. Earlier the Kerala High Court had rejected his bail plea twice.
Dileep was arrested on July 10 after Pulr Suni, the main accused in the case, named him as the conspirator behind the attack and assault on the actress.
This video was produced after Dileep's bail plea was rejected for the third time. The actor's bail plea was rejected again by a court in Angamaly on Monday.
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