The state of Kerala holds its breath as a grueling legal saga spanning nearly eight years approaches its climax. The sensational actress assault case, which has captivated and horrified the nation, is set for its final verdict on December 8. The judgment will be pronounced at 11 am by Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese, deciding the fate of key accused, actor Dileep, and others.
The Prosecution's Case: A Conspiracy Rooted in 2013
According to the prosecution's detailed reconstruction presented in court, the seeds of the alleged conspiracy were sown in 2013. The case hinges on the claim that actor Dileep held a deep-seated grudge against the survivor, a popular actress. Investigators allege that Dileep believed the actress was spreading rumours about an extramarital relationship between him and actress Kavya Madhavan, even informing his former wife, Manju Warrier.
The situation reportedly escalated further when Kavya Madhavan was allegedly humiliated by the survivor during a rehearsal camp for the film 'Amma' that same year. This incident is said to have provoked intense anger in Dileep. The prosecution argues that this anger transformed into a desire to destroy the actress's career, leading him to allegedly devise a plan to break her psychologically.
Central to this plan was the alleged involvement of Pulsar Suni. The prosecution claims Dileep pulled Suni into the conspiracy, suggesting that the assault be filmed. A promise of Rs 1.5 crore was allegedly made to Suni for executing the plan. The prosecution's timeline maps out a long-drawn conspiracy, with alleged meetings spanning from Kochi's Abad Plaza in 2013 to Joys Palace in Thrissur and Shanthigiri College in Thodupuzha over the subsequent years.
The Failed Attempt in Goa and the Final Assault
The conspiracy nearly reached its execution phase in January 2017 on the sets of the film 'Honey Bee-2' in Goa. As per the prosecution, Pulsar Suni and his associates were prepared to carry out the attack then. However, unexpected circumstances caused this plan to collapse.
The final assault was allegedly fast-tracked when Suni learned that the actress would be in Kochi in February 2017 for a promotional song recording. The horrific crime was carried out just days later, on February 17, sending shockwaves across the country and triggering the massive investigation that has now lasted for years.
Dileep's Communications After the Incident
In the final days leading up to the verdict, a significant detail from the case files has resurfaced. As reported in court, just five days after the assault on February 22, 2017, actor Dileep sent a personal message to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
In this message, the actor stated he was under "extreme mental stress, despite doing nothing wrong." Reports also indicate he contacted senior police officers around the same time. The prosecution has strongly argued that these communications were not mere expressions of anxiety but were driven by a fear that the investigation's net was closing in on him.
After years of dramatic twists, intense courtroom arguments, and a painstaking investigation, all eyes are now on the Ernakulam court. The verdict on December 8 will not only deliver justice in a case that has become a symbol of the struggle for women's safety in the film industry but will also close a chapter that has kept an entire state on tenterhooks for close to a decade.
