Malayalam actor Maniyanpillai Raju arrested in hit-and-run case
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Thiruvananthapuram: Popular Malayalam actor Maniyanpillai Raju surrendered before Museum Police on Friday morning and was arrested in connection with a hit-and-run incident that left two motorbike riders with serious injuries late Thursday night.
The accident occurred around 10 p.m. in front of Trivandrum Club, where the actor's car (KL-01-CJ-04), registered in his real name Sudheer Kumar Raju, collided with the victims' two-wheeler before fleeing the scene. Police took him for a medical examination before granting station bail.
Speaking to reporters, Raju admitted driving the vehicle but claimed the motorcycle hit his car from behind. " I was frightened. Yesterday itself, I informed that my car had met with an accident and asked that treatment be given to the injured," he said, adding he is a cancer patient undergoing treatment and recovering from chikungunya. He denied alcohol involvement.
City Police Commissioner K Karthik said DCP and ACP will probe thoroughly and submit a report. "The law will take its course," he added.
The injured—Nivedith Krishna (leg fractures) and Sooraj (spinal injuries)—are hospitalized. Police visited Raju's locked residence Thursday night but couldn't reach him until his surrender. An FIR is filed, and the car remains at Jawahar Nagar pending seizure.
(Inputs from IANS)