A trial court in the southern Indian state of Kerala acquitted Malayalam film superstar Dileep on Monday of charges of criminal conspiracy in the 2017 abduction and assault of a leading actress. Six other men were convicted in the high-profile case.
The actress, a prolific performer in over 80 southern Indian films and a multiple award-winner, was attacked by a group of men while traveling in February 2017. Indian law protects the identity of sexual assault survivors, but she waived her anonymity in 2022 to speak publicly about her ordeal.
Judge Honey M. Varghese of the Principal District and Sessions Court in Ernakulam delivered the verdict amid tight security. Dileep, who was arrested in 2017 and spent three months in custody before being released on bail, denied all charges and claimed after his acquittal that he was the victim of a “conspiracy” to destroy his career.
Kerala Law Minister P. Rajeev strongly rejected that assertion, stating he believed “the survivor didn’t get complete justice.” The state government announced it will appeal the acquittal.
“I have spoken to the chief minister and the director general of police regarding the matter. The prosecution has been directed to initiate further proceedings in this regard,” Rajeev said.
The six convicted men face sentencing on December 12. The case, which has drawn national attention for years, remains a focal point in India’s ongoing public reckoning with sexual violence and the challenges of prosecuting powerful figures.
By James Kisoo
