Bangalore: The special investigation team that probed the kidnap and sexual assault on a Malayalam actress early this year named actor Dileep as the eighth accused in the additional chargesheet it filed on Wednesday and his former wife Manju Warrier as a key witness.

The move is being seen as an effort by the SIT to establish that Dileep plotted the February 17 kidnap and assault to hit back at the popular actress for her role in the failure of his first marriage with Manju.

Dileep's name did not figure in the earlier chargesheet, filed on April 18.

While the film industry was abuzz with rumours about Dileep's dalliances with another leading actress, Kavya Madhavan (his current wife), it is believed the assault victim kept her friend Manju updated with details of the extramarital relationship before the couple formally divorced in January 2015.

Sources said the SIT has listed sufficient evidence to establish that it was a revenge attack by Dileep, an influential film personality with interests in production, distribution and even screening as he owns a modern theatre complex.

The chargesheet filed before Angamaly first class judicial magistrate Leena Riyas lists 385 witnesses, including more than 50 from the Malayalam film industry.

A gang of professional hitmen alleged to have been hired by Dileep had waylaid the actress while she was on her way to Kochi after a shoot in Thrissur. The six-member gang led by Sunil Kumar alias Pulsar Suni then assaulted the actress inside her car before letting her off.

All the six men, including her driver, were arrested within a few days. The kidnap mastermind, Suni, continues to be the first accused, followed by his accomplices Vijeesh, Manikandan, Vadival Saleem, Martin, Pradeep and Charlie. Along with Dileep, they all face charges of gang rape and criminal conspiracy.

Among the six other accused, four have been charged with criminal conspiracy.

The twist in the case came when Dileep filed a complaint on April 20 accusing Suni of trying to blackmail him by demanding Rs 1.5 crore in return for not dragging his name into the case.

After weeks of investigations and several hours of sustained interrogation, police arrested Dileep on July 10 accusing him of plotting the abduction to settle scores with the actress.

The actor, popularly known as the "common man's hero" for the roles he has played, spent 85 days in judicial custody before being granted conditional bail in early October 03 only after several failed attempts.

Dileep recently got permission from Kerala High Court to travel to Dubai although the prosecution had objected on the ground that he would be able to influence witnesses.