The prosecution team in the high-profile 2017 actor assault case has launched a scathing attack on the trial court's verdict that acquitted prominent Malayalam actor Dileep and three others. In a strongly-worded report, they have labeled the judgment as 'unsustainable' and recommended an immediate appeal to a higher court.
Prosecution Alleges Bias and Double Standards
Special Public Prosecutor V Aja Kumar has submitted a detailed report to the Director General of Prosecution, urging the state to challenge the acquittal. The report accuses the Ernakulam District Principal Sessions Court of applying double standards while evaluating evidence against different sets of accused. It specifically points out inconsistent treatment in assessing evidence against A1 to A7 compared to A7, A8, A9, and A15. Here, A8 refers to Dileep, and A15 is his friend Sarath G Nair.
The prosecution's core allegation is that the court failed to maintain a fair and impartial approach. 'The trial court has applied double standards of evaluation of evidence,' the report states, highlighting what it sees as a fundamental flaw in the judicial process that led to the acquittals.
Evidence Ignored and Sentence Questioned
Beyond allegations of bias, the prosecution claims that the court mishandled crucial evidence. The report asserts that valuable pieces of evidence were either ignored or discarded without valid reasons. It further criticizes the explanations provided by the trial judge for rejecting prosecution evidence, describing them as weak and lacking sound judicial reasoning.
Another significant point of contention is the punishment awarded to the six convicted accused, including prime accused Pulsar Suni. They were sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. However, the prosecution argues this is inadequate, noting that the law permits a life sentence for such a serious crime. The report implies that the gravity of the offense warranted the maximum punishment.
Criticism of the Voluminous Judgment
The prosecution also took issue with the structure and clarity of the judgment itself. The verdict, spanning a massive 1,709 pages, was criticized for being unnecessarily lengthy and difficult to comprehend. The report suggests that the voluminous nature stemmed from discussions on irrelevant matters and what it calls 'illegal justifications' to cover serious lapses during the trial by the judge and the defense counsels for Dileep and Sarath.
Appeal Process Set in Motion
The legal battle is far from over. Following the trial court's verdict last month, which acquitted Dileep and three others while convicting six, the Kerala government has already approved filing an appeal. Officials and lawyers associated with the case have confirmed that an appeal will soon be filed before the Kerala High Court. This move signals the prosecution's determination to seek what they believe is justice in a case that has captivated the state and the Indian film industry for over five years.
