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Verdict announced in high-profile assault case
A court in Kerala's Ernakulam district acquitted Malayalam film star Dileep on Monday in a 2017 case involving the abduction and sexual assault of a prominent actress. Six other defendants were convicted for their roles in the crime.
Case background
The assault occurred in February 2017 when the actress, a celebrated figure in South Indian cinema with over 80 films to her credit, was traveling from Thrissur to Kochi. A group of men intercepted her vehicle, assaulted her, and recorded the attack. Authorities later charged the accused with gang rape, criminal conspiracy, abduction, and sexual assault.
Dileep's legal journey
Dileep, who has consistently denied involvement, was arrested in 2017 and spent three months in custody before securing bail. He was one of 12 individuals named in the case. While the court cleared him of conspiracy charges, six co-accused were found guilty, with sentencing scheduled for December 12.
Actress breaks silence, faces backlash
In 2022, the actress waived her legal anonymity and spoke publicly about the trauma, describing her ordeal in a BBC interview. She recounted how the attack had "turned [her] life upside down" and subjected her to online harassment, including victim-shaming and baseless accusations that she fabricated the incident.
"I have been to hell and back," she told the BBC, detailing how the attackers filmed the assault, possibly for blackmail.
Her decision to speak out drew widespread support from industry peers, including Malayalam superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty, as well as Bollywood actresses.
Industry-wide reckoning
The case sparked outrage and prompted the Kerala government to form a committee, led by a retired high court judge, to investigate gender-based issues in the state's film industry. The Hema Committee report, released last year, exposed systemic exploitation, describing the industry as controlled by "a mafia of powerful men" and highlighting the "rampant" sexual harassment of women.
Security and public reaction
Monday's verdict was delivered under heavy security, with police barricading court entrances and deploying additional personnel. The case has drawn intense media scrutiny, with some coverage criticized for sensationalism and insensitivity toward the survivor.
The actress retains the option to appeal the acquittal in a higher court.
