KERALA, Dec 15: A routine bus journey in Kerala turned into a tense confrontation on Saturday when a KSRTC bus traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to Kalpetta screened a Malayalam film featuring actor Dileep, who was accused in the 2017 Kerala actress assault case. While Dileep was acquitted by a sessions court, the case remains a sensitive issue for many, particularly women.
Among the passengers was Lekshmi R Shekhar, who said the loud screening of the film made her “extremely uncomfortable.” She approached the bus conductor and requested that the movie be switched off, warning she would get down at the next stop if it continued. She also asked fellow passengers if they wanted to watch the film, and most women on board expressed opposition.
Respecting the majority, the conductor turned off the TV. However, the calm was short-lived as a few male passengers defended Dileep, arguing that he had been cleared by the court. The disagreement escalated into a heated argument, with voices raised and tensions running high.
Lekshmi stressed that while Dileep may have been acquitted in a lower court, the case is still pending in higher courts, and “every self-respecting woman must stand with the survivor until full justice is delivered.”
The 2017 assault case had shocked the film industry and public, involving the abduction and assault of a Malayalam actress. While six accused were recently sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court, Dileep, who was the eighth accused, had already been acquitted, making the case emotionally charged and sensitive.
The incident on the KSRTC bus highlights broader societal debates over consent, solidarity with survivors, and the ethics of screening films featuring accused individuals in public spaces.