Kerala Govt Appeals HC Over Dileep's Acquittal in 2017 Actress Case
Kerala Govt Appeals HC Over Dileep's Acquittal in 2017 Actress Case
The Kerala government files an appeal with the High Court to challenge actor Dileep's acquittal and seeks review of other acquittals in the 2017 actress abduction case.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has moved the High Court challenging the acquittal of actor Dileep and three others in the 2017 actress abduction and sexual assault case, and has sought a review of other acquittals.
The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court judge, Honey M Varghese, had on December 8 acquitted Dileep of conspiracy while convicting six others — Sunil NS, aka Pulsar Suni; Martin Antony; B Manikandan; VP Vijeesh; H Salim; and Pradeep — of charges including gang rape, kidnapping, intent to outrage a woman’s modesty, and conspiracy, and sentenced them to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The acquittal of Dileep drew strong responses from civil society and political circles; Law Minister P Rajeev affirmed in December that the state would challenge his exoneration. Besides Dileep, the state has also moved the High Court to re-examine the acquittals of Charly Thomas, Sanil Kumar, and Sarath G Nair. In its appeal, the state has pleaded for enhancement of the punishment awarded to the six convicts, including Sunil NS. The six convicts have also moved the High Court, challenging their conviction by the Principal Sessions Court.
On February 17, 2017, a leading Malayalam actress, while on her way from Thrissur to Kochi, was abducted and sexually assaulted inside a moving car, with the assault videographed by the six-member gang headed by Pulsar Suni. The prosecution argued that the kidnapping and gang rape of the actress were carried out on the instructions of Dileep, who allegedly harboured resentment against her for being involved in his break-up and eventual divorce from actress Manju Warrier. Dileep also allegedly suspected that the actress had informed Warrier about his extrama.
The government’s plea signals a renewed push to challenge acquittals and push for stricter punishment in a case that has kept the state’s legal and film industry conversations in the spotlight.
