After nearly a decade of legal proceedings, the verdict in the 2017 Kerala actress assault case, in which actor Dileep is the eighth accused, is set to be delivered on December 8, 2025. The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court, presided over by Judge Honey M Varghese, will pronounce the judgment, marking the end of a prolonged and closely watched criminal trial that has shaken Kerala and its film industry.
The case dates back to February 17, 2017, when a prominent Malayalam actress was abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving car on the outskirts of Kochi. The assault was allegedly filmed by the perpetrators. The incident sparked outrage and led to a complex investigation involving charges of conspiracy and intense scrutiny of the Malayalam film industry.
The prime accused, Sunil Kumar, also known as "Pulsar Suni," and other members of the gang were arrested within weeks of the incident. Dileep's involvement surfaced amidst rumors and was fueled by actress Manju Warrier's statement suggesting a criminal conspiracy behind the attack. Dileep was arrested in July 2017 and spent approximately three months in prison before being granted bail by the High Court.
The prosecution alleges that Dileep orchestrated the assault as revenge against the actress for revealing his relationship with actress Kavya Madhavan to his then-wife, Manju Warrier. They claim that Dileep hired Pulsar Suni to carry out the attack. The case gained traction after a letter from Suni to Dileep surfaced, demanding payment. Dileep has consistently denied the allegations, claiming he was falsely implicated and that the evidence was fabricated.
The trial, which formally began in March 2018, has faced numerous hurdles and delays. Twenty-eight witnesses, including prominent film personalities, turned hostile, and two special prosecutors resigned. The Supreme Court intervened, directing that the trial be completed expeditiously. Further investigation was prompted by filmmaker Balachandrakumar's revelation that he witnessed Dileep and others watching the visuals of the assault. He also stated he had seen Sunil Kumar at Dileep's residence. Balachandra Kumar has since passed away.
New details emerged just before the verdict, including a reported earlier attempt to assault the actress in Goa on January 3, 2017. Pulsar Suni allegedly picked her up from the airport and requested a vehicle to commit the crime, but the plan was thwarted when the actress returned to Kerala earlier than expected.
Adding to the complexities, hours before the verdict, reports surfaced about a message Dileep sent to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan five days after the assault, expressing "extreme mental stress" despite claiming innocence. The prosecution argues this outreach, along with contacting police, stemmed from fear of exposure, linking it to a personal relationship dispute as the alleged motive.
The case has had significant repercussions, leading to the formation of the Justice Hema committee to study issues faced by women in the film industry and the establishment of the Women in Cinema Collective. The verdict is expected to have far-reaching consequences for Dileep, the other accused, the Malayalam film industry, and society.
