Kerala, Dec 08 : After nearly eight years of intense legal proceedings, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court delivered its verdict on Monday in one of Kerala’s most high-profile criminal cases linked to the Malayalam film industry. Judge Honey M Varghese acquitted actor Dileep, the eighth accused, stating that the prosecution failed to prove conspiracy charges against him. Six other accused, including Sunil NS (Pulsar Suni), were found guilty.
The Crime That Shocked Kerala
On the night of February 17, 2017, a prominent Malayalam actress traveling alone from Thrissur to Ernakulam was attacked near Angamaly. Her car was deliberately rammed, and she was abducted by a group of men. Pulsar Suni allegedly sexually assaulted the actress and recorded the crime. The survivor was eventually abandoned near a film director’s house, sparking nationwide outrage and raising serious concerns about safety in the film industry.
The Accused: From Film World to Criminal Underworld
Sunil NS (Pulsar Suni): Principal planner and first accused.
Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijeesh VP, Salim H (Vadival Salim), Pradeep, Charly Thomas, Sanilkumar (Mesthiri Sanil), G Sarath: Other accused involved in abduction and assault.
P Gopalakrishnan (Actor Dileep): Alleged mastermind, acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
The charges included criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, gang rape, wrongful confinement, destroying evidence, and aiding offenders in escaping, among the harshest sections of the Indian Penal Code.
A Long, Complex Trial
The trial began in March 2018 and spanned several years, involving 261 witnesses, with 28 turning hostile. Many witnesses, including film industry personalities, were examined in closed sessions to protect their identities. The prosecution submitted over 800 documents and 140 tangible pieces of evidence, while the defense countered with hundreds of documents. Witness statements alone took 438 days to record. Procedural hurdles, including resignations of two special public prosecutors and a denied plea to change the judge, further prolonged the trial.
Dileep’s Role and Acquittal
Dileep, a major figure in Malayalam cinema, faced allegations of orchestrating the crime by hiring a gang. The court, however, found no conclusive evidence linking him to the planning or execution of the attack, leading to his acquittal. Despite this, he remains under scrutiny in connection with separate legal matters concerning bail conditions.
Impact and Public Reaction
The verdict reinforces the gravity of the crime while highlighting the judicial challenges in prosecuting high-profile cases in India. While Dileep’s acquittal has stirred debates in the film fraternity and among the public, the convictions of six others underscore the accountability of the perpetrators involved in the brutal assault.