The kidnapping and sexual assault case that rocked the South Indian film industry in 2017 marked a significant turning point on Monday. The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court acquitted actor Dileep of all charges, stating that the prosecution could not convincingly prove his involvement. The court also acquitted three other accused in the case, while six co-accused were found guilty.
Court verdict: Who was convicted?
Nine individuals were tried in the trial, including:
– Sunil NS (Pulsar Suni)
– Martin Antony
– Manikandan B
– Vijesh VP
– Salim H
– Pradeep
– Charlie Thomas
– Sunil Kumar (Mesthri Suneel)
– Sharath.
The first six were convicted and the remaining three were reprieved.
Dileep
, who was present in the court premises after the verdict, said, “This was a conspiracy against me. I am grateful to all my lawyers and everyone who stood by me.” The actor had maintained his innocence in the case from the beginning.
The actress, who bravely displayed the presence of the victim and the seven-year-long legal battle,
was also present in court. The February 2017 incident was a shock not only for Kerala but for the entire country—the actress was forcibly taken into a moving car at night and subjected to torture for nearly two hours. The accused fled after committing the crime. The case dragged on for nearly eight years between courts and investigating agencies, witnessing numerous delays, witness turnarounds, and changing charges.
The prosecution’s claim and weakening case
The government’s prosecution team alleged that the entire attack was part of a well-planned conspiracy, in which Dileep played a key role. Last October, the prosecution also filed a new charge against the actor, accusing him of destroying evidence. However, during the trial, several key witnesses changed their statements, weakening the prosecution’s case, and the court acquitted the actor, giving him the “benefit of the doubt.”