'For whom and why was the crime committed?' key questions unanswered in actress assault case

KOCHI: The court verdict acquitting actor Dileep, the eighth accused in the actress assault case, was delivered a short while ago. The court found accused one to six guilty. The verdict was pronounced by the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court. Even after the judgment, the key question raised by the prosecution remains unanswered: For whom did the first accused, Pulsar Suni, commit this crime?

Accused one to six are people with criminal backgrounds. Why did they attack the actress? What connection did they have with her? Why was she the only target? Who directed them? These are some of the many questions that still have no clear answers, according to the public. The verdict is expected to spark major discussions across the state. After the judgment, fans cheered Dileep as he came out of the court, and laddus were distributed outside.

This case, registered for the first time in India for issuing a “quotation” to commit sexual assault, has reached its verdict after eight and a half years. There were ten accused in total, including Dileep. Pulsar Suni was the first accused, followed by Martin Antony, B Manikandan, VP Vijeesh, H Salim (Vadival Salim), Pradeep, and Charlie Thomas as the second to seventh accused. Actor Dileep was the eighth accused, and Sanilkumar (Mesthiri Sanil) the ninth.

The seventh accused Charlie, Dileep, and friend Sarath were acquitted. The court said there was no evidence to prove conspiracy or destruction of evidence against Dileep.

The accused faced charges including rape, conspiracy, outraging modesty, insulting womanhood, use of force, unlawful detention, destruction of evidence, filming obscene content, and its circulation. Dileep’s friend G. Sarath was the tenth accused for allegedly helping destroy evidence. The actress was attacked inside a moving car between Angamaly and Kalamassery on February 17, 2017.