Eight and a half years of trial procedures: Crucial verdict tomorrow in actress assault case

KOCHI: The dramatic and controversial trial in the actress assault case will conclude tomorrow. Malayalis are anxious to know how the verdict, which comes after eight and a half years, will affect actor Dileep, the eighth accused. The verdict will be delivered by Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese.

The first accused is Sunilkumar alias Pulsar Suni, a native of Perumbavoor. There are 10 accused including Dileep. The actress was attacked on the evening of February 17, 2017, while she was coming to Kochi from Thrissur for a shoot. Martin Antony, B Manikandan, VP Vijeesh, Vadival Salim (H Salim), Pradeep and Charlie Thomas are the accused from two to seven. Mestri Sanil (Sanilkumar) is the ninth accused. Dileep's friend VIP Sarath alias Sarath Nair was also named as an accused in the second chargesheet.

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

Dileep is accused of conspiring to commit gang rape, insulting femininity, wrongful detention, use of force, destruction of evidence, making and distributing obscene pictures.

Attack by causing an accident

The actress left her residence in Thrissur in a Mahindra SUV driven by the second accused Martin. The Tempo Traveller driven by Pulsar Suni rammed into it at Aluva Athani. Suni got into the back seat and covered the actress's mouth. When they reached Kakkanad, they stripped her naked, attacked her and filmed the scenes on their mobile phones. The actress was dropped off at director Lal's house late at night.