Justice served: Dileep acquitted, Pulsar Suni convicted in high-profile actress kidnapping case
Kochi (The Uttam Hindu): The Ernakulam District and Sessions Court on Monday delivered its landmark verdict in the highly publicized actress kidnapping and sexual assault case that rocked the Malayalam film industry in 2017. The court granted a significant relief to accused No. 8, renowned actor Dileep, by acquitting him of all charges. Meanwhile, the main accused, Pulsar Suni, and five of his accomplices were convicted under serious charges.
Judge Honey M. Varghese read the verdict before a packed court at 11 a.m. Based on the evidence, the court concluded that the main accused, Pulsar Suni, and his accomplices committed heinous crimes including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, assault with intent to outrage modesty, attempted disrobing, and gang rape. The six accused were convicted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, while sufficient evidence was found against Dilip for his involvement in the conspiracy.
The case dates back to February 17, 2017, when a popular Malayalam actress was abducted while returning from work in Kochi. She was allegedly sexually assaulted and filmed for nearly two hours in a moving car. During the police investigation, actor Dileep's name surfaced in the case, causing a sensation. Police alleged that the main accused, Pulsar Suni, had written a letter to Dileep from jail, based on which Dileep was arrested in July 2017. However, he was granted bail in October 2017. Dileep also demanded a CBI investigation in 2018, but the court rejected his request.
The case has seen many twists and turns. In 2021, director Balachandra Kumar's revelations further complicated the case, claiming that Dileep possessed videos of the assault. This led to a fresh investigation and filing of a case. During the trial, a total of 261 witnesses, including several film personalities, testified, and 834 documents were presented. The cross-examination of the investigating officer alone lasted 109 days. Sadly, two key witnesses, former MLA PT Thomas and director Balachandra Kumar, passed away before the verdict.