Main accused in Kerala actress' kidnap arrested

Kochi: Pulsar Sunil, the main accused in the kidnapping of a popular Malayalam actress, was arrested on Thursday, six days after the shocking incident, the state police said.

Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra told the media that Sunil and an accomplice have been taken into custody but refused to provide details.

"I will not make any comment on that," said Behra, referring to reports that the two men were nabbed from a court.

"I have said before also that investigation is not a magic wand. Sometimes it takes time to get the accused and we did our best and now we have them," he said.

The Malayalam actress was abducted on February 17 while travelling from Thrissur to Kochi by road in her car. She was dumped near the house of director-turned-actor Lal, who upon hearing her harrowing experience, informed the police. This led to the arrest of her driver Martin.

The actress told the police that Pulsar Sunil kidnapped her at the behest of others. Sunil, who has contacts with several people in the industry, including a popular actor, reportedly told the actress that he had been hired to kidnap her and if she resisted, he would have to use force.

Political leaders and members of the film fraternity have widely condemned the incident, which has raked up questions of what would be the fate of ordinary people if this was the plight of a celebrity.