December 8 to be crucial for actor Dileep; Know more about three major arguments against actor in sexual assault case

KOCHI: The verdict in the sexual assault case of a young actress will be crucial for actor Dileep. The trial court will pronounce the verdict on December 8. Perumbavoor native Sunil Kumar alias Pulsar Suni is the first accused, while actor Dileep is the eighth accused. The verdict comes eight and a half years after the crime. Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court Special Judge Honey M Varghese will complete the trial and pronounce the verdict in the case involving 10 accused.

The actress was attacked on the evening of February 17, 2017, when she was coming to Kochi from Thrissur for shooting. Martin Antony, B. Manikandan, V P Vijeesh, Vadiwal Salim (H Salim), Pradeep and Charlie Thomas are the accused from two to seven. Mestri Sanil (Sanilkumar) is the ninth accused, and VIP Sarath alias Sarath Nair is the 15th accused.

Dileep was arrested in the second phase of the investigation.

Dileep, who was arrested on July 10, 2017, was granted bail with strict conditions on October 3. Pulsar Suni, who had spent years in jail, was granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2024. The trial began on March 8, 2018.

The accused, including Pulsar Suni, who were directly involved in the attack, were present in court on Tuesday. The actress left her residence in Thrissur in a Mahindra SUV driven by the second accused, Martin. The Tempo Traveller driven by Pulsar Suni hit their car at Aluva Athani. Pulsar then forcefully entered the back seat of the car. Suni then closed the actress's mouth. When they reached Kakkanad, they stripped and assaulted her and recorded the scenes on their mobile phones. The actress was dropped off at director Lal's house late at night.

Arguments against Dileep

1. Offered Suni Rs. 1.5 crore to film nude scenes of the actress. The meeting took place at Abad Plaza Hotel in Kochi in 2013.

2. Pulsar met the actor at Joys Palace Hotel in Thrissur in 2015 and took money. On November 8, 2016, the two conspired in Dileep's caravan.

3. It is suspicious that Dileep stopped the shooting of ‘Ramaleela’ and got admitted to the hospital at the time of the attack. It is also alleged that he saw the attack scenes when out on bail.

The charges against Dileep include conspiracy to commit gang rape, insulting femininity, wrongful detention, use of force, destruction of evidence, and taking and distributing obscene photographs.