Actress abduction case: Actor Dileep’s acquittal triggers divergent reactions

Actor Dileep’s acquittal in the 2017 high-profile actress assault case, in which the verdict was announced on Monday, has triggered sharp and emotionally charged reactions across Kerala’s political and cultural landscape, even as the state government signalled its intent to challenge the verdict in a higher court.
Earlier on Monday, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court acquitted Dileep and three others, holding that the prosecution had failed to establish the charge of criminal conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.
The first six accused were found guilty in the case.
All 10 accused were present in the court as directed during the pronouncement of the judgment.
Leading voices from the film fraternity and civil society expressed shock and disappointment at the judgment.
The verdict was pronounced by Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese. He began by substantiating the offences charged in the case and then declared the first six accused – Sunil, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh V P, Salim H, and Pradeep, guilty.
“Since the offenses are grave and serious in nature and perpetrated against a woman, accused not entitled to get benevolence of the Probation of Offenders Act. Bail bonds of A1 to A6 are cancelled and remanded to custody,” the court ordered.
They were charged under Sections of the then IPC and IT Act, including criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, gang rape, kidnapping or abducting a woman and criminal force to a woman with an intent to outrage her modesty.
The 2017 assault on a multi-lingual actress, in which miscreants forced their way into her moving car on February 17 and held her captive for two hours, profoundly shook the conscience of Kerala society. (Agencies)