As the probe intensifies, the Kochi police have summoned popular Malayalam actor Dharmajan Bolgatty in connection with the Shamna Kasim blackmail case. The actor was asked for a statement after his contact number was found from the phones of the accused - a hairstylist named Harris.

After giving his statement to the Police, the actor spoke to media saying that the gang that blackmailed Shamna had contacted him claiming to be gold smugglers. "Production controller Shaji Pattikkara gave them my number. A man who introduced himself as Ashkar Ali spoke to me and said they smuggle gold using celebrities and mentioned deals worth crores of rupees. I thought them to be pranksters and did not take it seriously. Later, they asked for the numbers of Shamna Kasim and Miya and asked me to introduce him to them. They called me only twice or thrice. But when I said I would complain to the police, their number became switched off. They never called me again," Dharmajan said.

Reportedly, two more Malayalam actors will be summoned regarding the case.

Eight people have been arrested so far and the police have registered nine FIRs. The latest to be arrested is a hairstylist, Harris, a relative of Rafeeque, who was earlier arrested in the case. It was hairstylist Haris who had played the role of the intermediary in the marriage proposal, through which the accused approached Shamna’s family. The probe team is said to have recorded Shamna’s statement on Monday.

Reportedly, five more people filed complaints against the gang on Monday. The gang is said to have extorted money and gold from 18 girls, who work in the cinema and modelling fields, after blackmailing them.