Kochi, Jan 17 (TIWN) In a further setback to actor Dileep, an accused on bail in the actress abduction case, the Kerala High Court on Monday allowed to re-examine three and summon 5 new witnesses in the ongoing trial.

The prosecution had sought recall of 7 witnesses and summoning of 9 additional witnesses.  The High Court in its order today allowed recall of 3 witnesses prosecution witnesses - PWs 43, 69 and 73 besides allowing summoning of 5 additional witnesses.  To that extent, the trial court verdict, which had rejected the entire plea, was set aside.  "The order impugned to the extent rejecting recalling PW 43,69, 73 and summoning 5 additional witnesses is set aside," the Court  The entire exercise of adducing additional evidence as per this order should be concluded in 10 days, the Court added.  The Court also ordered that the Director General of Prosecution should ensure that a new Special Public Prosecutor is deputed or some other alternative arrangement is made to conduct the case on behalf of prosecution.  This was after the special public prosecutor Anil Kumar who was earlier conducting the case, had resigned.  Justice Kauser Edappagath pronounced the verdict on the appeal filed by the State Government challenging the proceedings before the trial court in the actress attack case and seeking to re-examine several witnesses.   

The actor and his associates are being tried for hatching a conspiracy to take revenge on a female actor in the Malayalam film industry by having her abducted, sexually assaulted and photographed in a moving vehicle.  On January 3, the Investigating Officer (IO) in the case had informed the CBI Special Court that further investigation would be necessary after statements from a film director Balachandra Kumar revealed that he had heard Dileep's statements that indicated his intention to take revenge on the police officers investigating the case.  The trial judge ordered the IO to submit a detailed report before January 20 after completing the investigation but had denied the prosecution's request to recall witnesses and examine several new witnesses  This prompted the State Government to approach the High Court with a petition challenging the trial court's rejection of its request.