July 11: The Malayalam film fraternity today united in distancing itself from superstar Dileep, who was arrested yesterday for the conspiracy behind the kidnap and sexual assault on an actress, breaking its silence that had been construed as support for one of the most powerful personalities in the industry.

Dileep, one of the triumvirate ruling the Malayalam film industry that also includes Mammootty and Mohanlal, was produced at the residence of a magistrate in Aluva, in Ernakulam district, and remanded in 14 days' judicial custody. By 7.30am, he was shifted to Aluva sub-jail, a short drive from his palatial bungalow.

While being taken to the magistrate's house, Dileep told reporters: "I am innocent. I was trapped." On his way out, he said: "I am not scared of anyone."

The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), the most influential of film organisations in Kerala, displayed alacrity in sacking Dileep as its treasurer and member within hours of him being sent to jail. Taking a cue from AMMA, the Film Employees' Federation of Kerala and The Film Producers' Association also expelled him.

AMMA, which had earlier desisted from discussing the actress's abduction and molestation in February and her allegation of conspiracy, today called an emergency meeting of its executive committee at the Kochi residence of veteran actor Mammootty.

"An emergency 'available' executive committee meeting was held against the backdrop of Dileep's arrest and it was decided that his primary membership would be cancelled. We will continue to support our sister and colleague," Mammootty said in the presence of others, including Mohanlal, who nodded.

On June 29, AMMA had drawn flak for not taking up the issue. When journalists had pointed this out at a news conference, two actor-MLAs had shouted them down.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had earlier declared the case closed in the Assembly even before police completed the investigation, said the government would ensure no culprits went scot-free.

Having come under fire for ruling out a conspiracy, as alleged by the victim and her friend Manju Warrier, Dileep's former wife, Vijayan today claimed he had even then said the investigation would continue. "The government had directed top police officers to investigate properly and make arrests once they get enough evidence," the chief minister said.

The police have booked Dileep under IPC Sections 376D (gang rape), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 342 (wrongful confinement), 366 (kidnap), 411 (receiving stolen property), 506 (criminal intimidation), 201 (disappearance of evidence) and 212 (harbouring offender), and IT Act Sections 66E (intently capturing images of private parts of any person without his/her consent) and 66A (publishing or transmitting of sexually explicit images in electronic form).

The atrocity on the actress in a moving car had been filmed.

Dileep's lawyer Ram Kumar rubbished the charges and said a bail plea would be moved in a district court tomorrow.

Sources said Dileep was questioned till early today, following which he was allowed to change his clothes before being driven in a police van to the magistrate's residence a few kilometres away.

Sources said Dileep pleaded before the magistrate that he should not be sent to jail. According to the sources, a shocked Dileep hugged his younger brother Anoop and wept inconsolably after the magistrate read out the remand order.

Sources in the Aluva jail said the superstar would be treated like others in the prison. Dileep's request for a special cell was turned down and he has been kept with five others.

As an accused in remand, Dileep will be allowed to wear his own clothes.

Young actors and close friends of the actress who was sexually assaulted, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Asif Ali and Remya Nambeesan, said they were satisfied with the outcome of today's AMMA meeting.

Nambeesan, who represented the newly formed Women in Cinema Collective at the AMMA meeting, articulated the need for safety on behalf of all women in the industry.

"We want to work and travel without fear. This AMMA executive meeting has promised to take up our demand for 50 per cent representation in it," she said.

Prithviraj, who had said he would speak his mind if AMMA didn't before stepping into the meeting, expressed satisfaction at the sacking of Dileep. "We took hardly 10 minutes to decide," he said.