Eight-year legal battle; quantum of sentence to be pronounced on Dec 12, timeline of case

KOCHI: The verdict in the case that garnered attention nationwide comes was delivered after eight years. All eyes were on actor Dileep, will he be convicted or acquitted. However, the court found the first six accused, including Pulsar Suni, guilty. All charges against them, including rape, were proven by the prosecution. Therefore, they are likely to get maximum punishment. Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court Judge Honey M Varghese will pronounce the verdict on Friday, December 12.

The trial in the case began in 2018, but it got delayed for two years due to Covid lockdown. The time given by the Supreme Court to complete the trial could not be met. The memory card containing the visuals of the survivor being attacked was opened and examined while in custody and this had stoked a controversy.

The cross examination of the prosecution witnesses was completed in September last year. The last person to be examined was the investigating officer, Baiju Paulose. It took 109 days to complete the examination. It was then expected that the defense would complete the examination of the witnesses and pronounce the verdict by the beginning of this year. However, as the procedure dragged on, the final verdict was also delayed.

The incident related to the case happened on February 17, 2017. The actress was going to Ernakulam from Thrissur for the shooting of the film. In the meantime, the case alleged that the actress was kidnapped and defamatory clippings were filmed as per the quotation. The defense presented 221 documents. 28 people turned hostile in the case. The accused were charged with rape, conspiracy, insulting womanhood, wrongful detention, using force, destruction of evidence, and taking and distributing obscene pictures.

The accused were arrested in the days following the incident. Actor Dileep was arrested in the investigation into the conspiracy. The high court appointed a female judge on the request of the survivor. The trial was held secretly. Later, based on the revelations of director Balachandra Kumar, the crime branch conducted further investigation and filed a second charge sheet.

Crime Branch DySP Baiju K Paulose was the investigating officer. Some of the accused in the first list were excluded and others were made approvers. There were 261 witnesses in the case. It took 438 days for the examination of the witnesses alone. The prosecution produced 833 documents. There were 142 mainours.

Timeline of case

• The actress was attacked on February 17, 2017. The actress left her residence in Thrissur in a Mahindra SUV driven by Martin at night. Following Martin's information, a Tempo Traveler driven by Pulsar Suni followed her from Angamaly. Manikandan and Vijeesh were in it. They faked an accident by ramming the Tempo into the actress' vehicle at Athani in Aluva.

• When Martin got out after pretending an argument, Manikandan and Vijeesh entered the back seat, forcibly grabbed the actress' hands and covered her mouth. The vehicles continued journey. When reached Kalamassery, Pradeep also joined them.

• Some of the accused took turns in both the vehicles. Driver Martin pretended to be helpless. Suni dropped Martin off on the Palarivattom-Vennala route and drove the vehicle. Salim and Manikandan were with them.

• When reached Kakkanad, Suni sat on the left side of the actress, entrusting Salim to drive the vehicle. Threatened her to capture visuals after giving drugs if not cooperated. Stripped her and recorded the visuals on her mobile phone. He also said the person who gave the quotation would call her. However, it was suspicious that Dileep had already been admitted to the hospital after stopping the shooting of Ramaleela.

• Others fled after taking the vehicle near where Martin got off. The outside world came to know about the incident when the actress was dropped off at director Lal's house late at night. Martin, who appeared innocent, was taken into custody on February 18.

• In the meantime, Suni made several attempts to threaten Dileep for money as per the agreement. Sent a letter via fellow prisoners. Called Dileep's trusted people.

• On February 18, both vehicles in which the accused were travelling were found. A special investigation team was formed.

• On February 19, Vadiwal Salim and Pradeep were arrested from Coimbatore. A group of film workers gathered in Kochi in solidarity with the actress. Manju Warrier alleged conspiracy in the presence of actor Dileep.

• On February 20, Manikandan was arrested from Palakkad.

• On February 23, the first accused Pulsar Suni was arrested. He was arrested when he came to surrender in court. The visuals had been handed over before this. An attempt was also made to meet Dileep.

• On April 18, a chargesheet was filed making Pulsar Suni the first accused in the Angamaly court.

• On April 20, Dileep complained that a person named Vishnu called him on the phone and demanded Rs 1.5 crore.

• June 25: Suni's fellow prisoners Vishnu and Sanal were arraigned in the case for trying to blackmail Dileep.

• On June 28, actors Dileep and Nadirsha were questioned in the case.

• On July 2, it was found that Pulsar Suni had arrived at the location of Dileep's film.

• On July 10, Dileep was arrested. He was subsequently remanded in Aluva Sub-Jail.

• On July 20, Suni's first lawyer Pratheesh Chacko was arrested for destroying evidence.

• On August 2, Pratheesh Chacko's junior Raju Joseph was arrested.

• On September 2, Dileep was allowed to attend his father's Shraddham.

• On October 3, the high court granted Dileep bail with strict conditions.

• On November 21, the high court allowed Dileep to travel abroad.

• On November 22, a supplementary charge sheet was filed, making Dileep the eighth accused.

• The trial of the case began on March 8, 2018, at the Ernakulam Sessions Court.

• On November 29, 2019, the Supreme Court directed that the trial be completed within six months.

• The cross examination of witnesses began on January 30, 2020.

• Director Balachandra Kumar's revelation on December 25, 2021.

• Permission for further investigation on Balachandra Kumar's statement on January 4, 2022.

• Pulsar Suni was granted bail on September 17, 2024.

• Final arguments began on December 11, 2024.

• The defense's arguments completed on April 9, 2025.

• The date for the verdict was announced on November 25, 2025.

• The verdict was pronounced on December 8, 2025.

List of accused
1) Sunil N S (Pulsar Suni)
2) Martin Antony
3) B Manikandan
4) V P Vijeesh
5) H Salim (Vadival Salim)
6) Pradeep
7) Charley Thomas
8) P Gopalakrishnan (actor Dileep)
9) Sanil Kumar (Mesthiri Sanil)
10) G Sharat