Kochi: The 2017 actor assault case has acquired a new dimension with the recent disclosure of filmmaker P Balachandrakumar that the accused actor Dileep conspired to endanger a couple of investigating officers and a new case being registered in this regard. Balachandrakumar has told the Crime Branch officers probing this case that Dileep's wife Kavya Madhavan and his brother Anoop were aware of the crime.

Balachandran had recently claimed Dileep was plotting attacks against the investigating officers and trying to influence the witnesses in the sensational older case pertaining to the abduction and sexual assault of a popular young actress in early 2017 by a gang led by Pulsar Suni, the accused number one.

Dileep too is an accused in this case as it is suspected he was the brain behind the heinous crime. The entire act was filmed by some of the accused to blackmail the actress.

Balachandran, who gave his statement at the Crime Branch's office in Ernakulam on Tuesday, said he had handed over 20 digital evidences to the probe team supporting his claims.

The Crime Branch wing of the Kerala police had registered a case against Dileep and five others on Sunday for allegedly threatening the investigation officers.

The Crime Branch registered the case on a complaint filed by an investigating officer based on a purported audio clip of Dileep which was released by a TV channel recently in which the actor was heard conspiring to attack the officials.

'Proper planning'

Balachandrakumar, who met the media after appearing before the Crime Branch, claimed discussions regarding the conspiracy to attack the investigating officers were held at many places.

"If the matter came up only once, then that might be an emotional outburst. But the same matter was discussed many times at many places which means there was a proper planning," he said.

Balachandrakumar, who had recently made some startling revelations against Dileep through the media, said his revelations came out this late because of many reasons which he will submit before the court on Wednesday.

He also claimed that there are evidences including digital ones to prove that Dileep had influenced the witnesses.

Deposition today

The filmmaker's confidential statement will be recorded in front of the Ernakulam Judicial First-Class Magistrate on Wednesday. He will be further questioned in the conspiracy case registered against Dileep.

New charges

The actor and five others were booked under various provisions of IPC including sections 116 (abetment), 118 (concealing design to commit offence), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (criminal act done by several people).

While Dileep, two of his relatives and two others were named in the FIR, the sixth accused has been mentioned as an "identifiable person".

No arrest till Friday

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court today asked the police not to take any action against Dileep, in connection with the new case registered against him till January 14 when his anticipatory bail plea would be heard again.

Dileep was earlier arrested in 2017 over the assault case. He was let out on bail later. The fresh case comes as the trial in the old case was progressing in a special court in Kochi.