The high-profile legal saga surrounding the 2017 abduction and sexual assault of a prominent Malayalam actress is set to continue. In a significant development, the prosecution has initiated formal steps to challenge the trial court's verdict that acquitted actor Dileep, the eighth accused, of conspiracy charges.
State Prepares to Challenge Acquittal
According to reports, the Special Public Prosecutor has prepared a detailed report, which is slated for submission to the Director General of Prosecutions this week. Based on this report, the state government has already begun drafting an appeal. This move underscores the prosecution's firm intent to contest the trial court's findings, which concluded that the evidence failed to establish a larger conspiracy linking the actor to the horrific crime.
The trial court had delivered its verdict after a protracted legal battle lasting over eight years. While six other accused were convicted, Dileep was cleared of the conspiracy charges, a decision that has now sparked a fresh legal offensive from the state.
Allegations of Verdict Leak and Survivor's Anguish
Adding another layer of controversy to the case, reports have emerged about a potential leak of the verdict. Investigating officer Baiju Paulose has informed the Director General of Police about an anonymous letter. This letter alleges that details of the judgment were known before its official announcement, claiming the written order was shown to a close associate of Dileep and that only the first six accused would be convicted.
While the trial court has not responded to these allegations, the issue was previously raised with the Chief Justice by the High Court Advocates' Association president, though internal differences stalled concrete action.
Days after the verdict, the survivor broke her silence with a powerful social media note, expressing deep disappointment and criticizing the judicial process. "After years of pain, tears, and emotional struggle, I have come to a painful realization: not every citizen in this country is treated equally before the law," she wrote.
She expressed gratitude for the conviction of the six accused, calling it a "small ray of light" after 8 years, 9 months, and 23 days. However, she stated the acquittal on conspiracy charges did not surprise her, revealing a long-held distrust in the proceedings. She claimed to have sensed something amiss in the handling of the case since 2020, particularly concerning "one particular accused."
Survivor Details Procedural Lapses
In her note, the survivor outlined several serious concerns. She revealed that she had approached both the High Court and Supreme Court multiple times seeking a transfer of the case, citing a lack of trust in the trial court, but all her pleas were dismissed.
She pointed to a major evidence tampering issue, stating, "The most important evidence in this case, the memory card, was found to have been illegally accessed three times while it was in court custody." She also denied baseless rumors linking her to the prime accused, clarifying she met him only once or twice during a 2016 film shoot and he was never her employee or driver.
Further alleging a hostile atmosphere, she claimed two public prosecutors resigned from the case, both personally telling her not to expect justice from that court. Her request for open court proceedings was also denied. Concluding her message, she thanked her supporters and addressed her detractors directly.
