A local court has acquitted Malayalam actor Dileep in the sensational 2017 sexual assault case, stating that the prosecution had “miserably” failed to prove any conspiracy involving the actor. The judgment, delivered by Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions Court Judge Honey M Varghese, highlighted inconsistencies and insufficient evidence against Dileep.

The prosecution had alleged that Dileep instructed the prime accused, Pulsar Suni, to sexually assault the actress and record visuals, including close-ups of her gold ring, to identify her. The court rejected this claim, noting that it was introduced only in the second charge sheet and lacked corroboration from earlier statements.

Judge Varghese pointed out that the victim’s multiple statements between February and June 2017 made no mention of Dileep’s involvement or any instruction to record her ring. The court also examined approvers’ testimonies, which were inconsistent and often altered to align with the prosecution’s narrative.

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The court further noted that visuals of the assault already clearly revealed the victim’s identity, making the alleged ring recording unnecessary. Claims of a prior conspiracy dating back to 2013 and an attempted assault in Goa in January 2017 were similarly dismissed due to lack of credible evidence.

While Dileep and three others were acquitted, the court sentenced six accused, including Pulsar Suni, to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment for their roles in the assault. The incident, which occurred on February 17, 2017, involved the actress being held in a moving car for two hours, during which she was assaulted and filmed.

The court’s verdict underscores the importance of strong, corroborated evidence in high-profile criminal cases, while clarifying that the actor was not involved in orchestrating the crime. The ruling has sparked widespread reactions across Kerala, with debates continuing over the handling of celebrity-related criminal cases.

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