A special court in Kochi has acquitted actor Dileep in the high-profile 2017 actress abduction and assault case, while convicting six other accused, including prime perpetrator Pulsar Suni. The court found that the conspiracy charge against Dileep, the eighth accused, was not proven. The six convicted individuals were found guilty on multiple counts, including rape, conspiracy, and destruction of evidence, and were sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment.
The verdict concludes an eight-year legal process marked by significant delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple appeals, and a suspended investigation following sensational allegations by filmmaker Balachandra Kumar. The trial involved the examination of over 260 witnesses and hundreds of documents, during which 28 witnesses retracted their original statements.
Following the ruling, Dileep claimed the case was a conspiracy to destroy his career and thanked his supporters. However, the state government, led by Law Minister P. Rajeev, announced it would appeal the verdict. The original investigation officer, B. Sandhya, also suggested the legal process was not yet final.
The case now moves to the appellate courts, where the prosecution's challenge to Dileep's acquittal will be heard. The long-drawn trial has highlighted the complexities of prosecuting high-stakes criminal cases involving influential figures in the public eye.
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