After a grueling eight-year legal battle that shook the foundations of the Malayalam film industry, a verdict is finally expected in the Kerala actress abduction and assault case. The spotlight is on actor Dileep, accused number eight, who stands trial for allegedly masterminding the crime. The case exposed deep-seated issues of power, silence, and systemic harassment in the industry.
From Abduction to a Conspiracy Unraveled
On February 17, 2017, a prominent Malayalam actress was abducted while travelling to a film set in Thrissur. She was assaulted inside a moving vehicle by a group of men who recorded the horrific act. In a bold move that broke the industry's culture of silence, the survivor reported the crime the very next day, setting a powerful precedent.
Initial arrests were swift. Driver Martin Antony was held on the first day, and within a week, history-sheeter Sunil NS, alias Pulsar Suni, was named the first accused. Four others were also arrested. However, the case took a dramatic turn when a secret letter, allegedly written by Pulsar Suni from jail, hinted at a larger conspiracy and a hired 'job'. This led investigators towards popular actor Dileep.
The prosecution alleged that Dileep's motive was revenge, stemming from the survivor having informed his then-wife, actress Manju Warrier, about his relationship with actress Kavya Madhavan years earlier. In July 2017, Dileep was arrested and spent 83 days in jail before being granted bail in October, after two rejections.
A Protracted Trial: Hostile Witnesses and Tampered Evidence
The trial began on March 8, 2018, and has seen numerous delays due to changes in prosecutors, transfer petitions, and interventions by higher courts. The list of accused includes Pulsar Suni (A1), Martin Antony (A2), and Dileep (A8), among others. Charges range from criminal conspiracy and gang rape to abduction and destruction of evidence.
A significant challenge for the prosecution has been proving criminal conspiracy (Section 120B). Out of 261 witnesses examined, 28 turned hostile, including several from the film fraternity. Actors Bhama and Siddique, who initially stated they heard Dileep threaten the survivor, later withdrew their testimony.
Perhaps the most disturbing twist was the revelation that the memory card containing the assault footage was illegally accessed while in court custody—twice in 2018 and once in 2021. Forensic reports confirmed the hash value had changed, indicating potential tampering or copying. The Kerala High Court strongly criticized this failure to protect the victim's rights.
A Verdict That Will Define a Legacy
The verdict, to be delivered by Principal District and Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese in Ernakulam, hinges on whether the court accepts the testimony and circumstantial links connecting Dileep to prime accused Pulsar Suni. While digital evidence strongly supports the survivor's account of the assault, proving the conspiracy remains the crucial grey area.
Beyond the courtroom, the case ignited a powerful social movement. The #Avalkoppam protests, the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), and the Justice Hema Committee report brought systemic sexual harassment in Malayalam cinema into sharp focus.
Whether the court delivers a conviction or an acquittal, the verdict on December 8 will not merely decide the legal fate of the accused. It will stand as a landmark moment, determining how India remembers one of its most defining and protracted battles for justice and dignity within the world of cinema.
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