Actress assault case: No evidence to prove that Dileep gave money to Pulsar Suni

KOCHI: The judgment copy in the actress assault case, detailing the prosecution’s lapses, has been released. One of the key findings is that there is no evidence to prove that actor Dileep had given money to Pulsar Suni, the first accused. The investigation team had earlier claimed that Dileep directly gave Suni an advance of Rs 10,000 near the Joy Palace Hotel in Thrissur, and later arranged another Rs 30,000 in Thodupuzha. The court rejected this claim.

The court also observed that there is no proof that Dileep destroyed digital records related to the case, and that the prosecution failed to properly present digital evidence.

The verdict states that on February 17, 2017—the day of the incident—Suni and Martin conspired and brought the survivor to Kochi, and gathered the third to sixth accused to carry out the attack.

The trial court’s judgment on the actress assault case runs to 1,551 pages.

Allegations of influence not considered

On page 1547 of the verdict, it mentions the prosecution’s allegation that the eighth accused, Dileep, tried to influence various judges, especially the trial court judge. However, Dileep’s lawyer denied this argument. The defence argued that the prosecution and investigation team distorted facts to mislead the judge and the judicial system.

The court stated that it would not intervene in this matter, adding that justice will be delivered "even if the sky falls." Throughout the judgment, the court repeatedly notes that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against Dileep and the other accused beyond a reasonable doubt. The court also rejected the findings from the further investigation based on Balachandra Kumar’s revelations.