In a major development in the Kerala actress assault case that shocked the state, the court has acquitted actor Dileep, the eighth accused. The court stated that Dileep was acquitted due to lack of evidence. However, the first to sixth accused in the case were found guilty. Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese delivered the verdict, confirming that all the charges framed in the case would stand.
Charlie Thomas, Sunil Kumar, and Dileep’s friend Sarath were also acquitted. The court will pronounce the sentence for the convicted accused on Friday.
The verdict comes after 7 years and 7 months of trial in the case involving the abduction and sexual assault of a popular Malayalam actress and the recording of obscene visuals. Pulsar Suni (Sunil Kumar) is the first accused, while actor Dileep was listed as the eighth accused. Other accused include Martin Antony, Manikandan, Vijesh, Saleem, Pradeep, Charlie Thomas, Sunil Kumar, and Sarath.
The incident took place on February 17, 2017, during the actress’s journey from Thrissur to Kochi, when she was abducted and assaulted inside a moving vehicle. The accused also recorded objectionable videos of the attack. Police investigations led to the arrest of Pulsar Suni and others. Dileep was later arrested after investigators claimed to have evidence suggesting the crime was carried out at his behest.
Charges against the accused included rape, conspiracy, and more than ten other sections. The trial examined over 260 witnesses and more than 1,600 documents before the court delivered its judgment.
