Dileep | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Kochi: The Crime Branch on Wednesday started investigation on the WhatsApp group named 'Dileepine Poottanam', which was formed against actor Dileep, accused in the actress attack case. As per the preliminary assumption of the Crime Branch, the fake WhatsApp group was formed in the name of VIPs, including a senior woman police officer, film actors and media personnel.
The Crime Branch informed that a detailed probe should be carried out about the WhatsApp group.
The investigation team also found that the group was created in 2017 when Dileep was arrested and jailed.
On Wednesday, the Crime Branch team recorded the statement of director Baiju Kottarakkara who was added as a member of the WhatsApp group against Dileep. Statements of a few members, including director Aleppy Asharaf, was also recorded the other day.
Though the Crime Branch summoned actress Manju Warrier, she refused to give statement.
The Crime Branch team which is probing the conspiracy case against Dileep is also in charge of the probe into the WhatsApp group. It is learnt that the probe team is trying to track down the people who created the WhatsApp group.
The Crime Branch team recovered a screenshot of the WhatsApp group during the forensic examination of the phone owned by Dileep's brother Anoop. The screenshot was sent to Anoop's phone by a man named Shaun.
Baiju Kottarakkara files complaint
Director Baiju Kottarkkara has filed a complaint with Kochi Central police alleging that the WhatsApp group was created to defame him. In his petition, he asserted that he is not a member of the WhatsApp group and appealed to the police to initiate a probe.