Angamaly: Adding a new twist to the February 17 actress assault case, one of the accused, Martin, on Monday claimed in the court that he was being threatened by the actress not to disclose the 'real' facts about the attack.

Martin is the second accused in the case. Martin, who was driving the car on that night, told the court here that the victim actress and a movie producer were threatening him and he also submitted a written complaint before the court during the in-camera proceedings.

After the hearing, Martin's father Antony told the media about what happened in the court. According to his father, Martin had told the court that he was scared of the main accused Pulsar Suni, who was allegedly hired by popular Malayalam actor Dileep to waylay and attack the actress. Martin claimed that he feared for his life. The court then ordered the other accused to stay away from the court premises when it recorded Martin's statements.

The court also ordered police protection for Martin.

Meanwhile, the magistrate court here has extended the remand of the accused till January 20. The young actress was waylaid and assaulted in a moving car in Kochi on February 17 night. Six people, including key accused Pulsar Suni, were arrested soon after the incident.

The police had claimed that a conspiracy to abduct and assault the actress and film the act was hatched by Dileep, who was named the eighth accused in the case.

Dileep had recently approached the court seeking copies of documents in the case and the memory card that the prosecution says contains video recording of the assault. The court will consider Dileep's plea on Wednesday.

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