Dinesh Panicker (file photo)Several from the film fraternity have come forward with a slew of serious allegations against actor Dileep after his arrest for allegedly conspiring abduction and sexual assault of a young actress. But, Dinesh Panicker, a film producer who had to undergo a traumatic experience 15 years ago following a case filed by the embattled actor against him, chose to remain silent so far. He disclosed the reasons to Manorama Online.
"I will not make any statement regarding the arrest of Dileep. It's true that there was a case with Dileep as the complainant and myself as the accused. An actors' guild, producers and directors came together to resolve the case within a week. Actor Innocent intervened very effectively in the case. After that, Dileep and I ironed out our differences. We had cordial relations after that. I used to get calls to act in his films too. Later, I had even planned to produce a film with Dileep in the lead. I used to get invite for any of Dileep's programs. I was even personally invited for the inauguration of his theater," Panicker said.
The producer said that he was not a person to say whether or not Dileep is an offender. "I pray that he hasn't committed the crime in this case. If he has, he should be punished. I can guess the mental stress Dileep is going through now. I won't slam him over the past issue taking advantage of his present situation," he said.
Many pointed out in TV discussions that Dileep is lodged in the jail where Panicker was put years ago. But the actor-producer rebutted this. "The fact is that I have never been in a prison. The reason is I fell unconscious as soon as I appeared before the magistrate. I was immediately admitted in a hospital and was granted bail when I was discharged a couple of days later. Had I been jailed, it would have been the Aluva sub jail (where Dileep is lodged now)," Panicker said.
The incident had taken place during the filming of Dileep-starrer Udayapuram Sultan. By the time the film was completed, the producers had run out of money. Panicker, who was the distributor of the film had to give Dileep Rs 1.5 lakh more as remuneration. Dileep insisted that they pay up before he dubbed for the movie.
Panicker offered to give Dileep a check as a guarantee even though, as distributor, he did not have to. The movie was released and it flopped.
Dileep presented the check despite repeated requests by Panicker not to do so. The check bounced and a one-and-a-half years later, a team of police officers took him from Thiruvananthapuram to Paravur and produced him before the magistrate where he collapsed.
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