A Kerala court on Monday acquitted actor Dileep in the long-running case linked to the 2017 abduction and assault of a South Indian actress. After years of investigation, trial stages, and widespread public attention, the court held that there was not enough evidence to prove the conspiracy charges levelled against him.
However, the same court delivered a firm verdict on the other accused. Pulsar Suni, identified as the prime accused, along with five others, was convicted for their direct involvement in the crime. The court found them guilty of kidnapping, criminal intimidation, assault inside a moving vehicle, and several related offences, depending on their individual roles in the incident.
The case stemmed from the shocking abduction of the actress while she was travelling to a film shoot in February 2017. She was forcibly taken in a vehicle, assaulted, and the act was recorded by the attackers. The incident triggered strong reactions across the film industry as well as the public, eventually leading to a multi-layered investigation and a high-profile trial.
While the primary offenders now face punishment based on the court’s conclusions, the acquittal of Dileep marks a significant turning point in a case that has been closely watched for years. The verdict brings partial closure to one of Kerala’s most widely debated criminal cases.