Malayalam actor Dileep acquitted in 2017 actress assault case

Dileep, a popular Malayalam actor, has been acquitted by the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court in the 2017 actress assault case.

The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court has acquitted popular Malayalam actor Dileep in 2017 actress assault case. Dileep was accused of conspiring and hiring a gang to execute the crime.

Malayalam actor Dileep has been acquitted in the actor molestation case.

Dileep was the eighth accused in the 2017 Actress Assault Case, who was alleged to have violated bail conditions by the Kerala Crime Branch. Accused 1 to 6 were found guilty of most charges including rape, kidnapping.

The case pertains to an actress who worked in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films and was allegedly abducted and molested inside her car by a group of men who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017.

Who were the accused?

Sunil NS, widely known as Pulsar Suni, alleged to have orchestrated the abduction and assault, is the first accused. The others facing trial alongside him and Dileep are Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijeesh VP, Salim H, alias Vadival Salim, Pradeep, Charly Thomas, Sanilkumar alias Mesthiri Sanil, and G Sarath.

The trial, which began on March 8, 2018, has been lengthy and complex. A total of 261 witnesses were examined, many in camera, including several prominent film personalities, with 28 witnesses turning hostile. Over the years, two special prosecutors stepped down, and the survivor's request to replace the presiding judge was denied. The prosecution submitted 833 documents and 142 material objects, while the defence produced 221 documents. Witness examination alone spanned 438 days.