The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Monday acquitted Malayalam actor Dileep in the high-profile 2017 actress assault case. Dileep was the eighth accused and was charged with conspiring and hiring a gang to commit the crime. The court's verdict comes after years of investigation, several hearings, and a long-drawn trial that drew nationwide attention.
Who is Dileep?
Dileep, originally named Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan Pillai, started his career in mimicry and achieved public recognition through the comedy program Comicola presented on a popular television channel. He entered the film arena as an assistant director to Kamal and first appeared in front of the camera in the movie Ennodu Ishtam Koodamo, released in 1992. He later started doing supporting roles in films like Sainyam and Manathe Kottaram, with the influence of the latter prompting him to rename himself Dileep for the screen.
Also Read | Aryan Khan faces fresh controversy after alleged public display of middle finger, complaint filed
While he played one of the leads in Three Men Army, his rise to stardom was gradual. Roles in Kalyana Sowgandhikam and Saamoohyapaadam showcased his versatility, even as he continued to play secondary characters in movies like Sindhoora Rekha, Manthrika Kuthira, Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran, and Thooval Kottaram.
His breakthrough came in 1996 with Sallaapam and Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, opposite Manju Warrier, whom he later married. While sometimes his roles were not as big as Manju's, Dileep's sense of comic timing, physical humour, and boy-next-door charm appealed to the audience. Malayalam cinema needed light-hearted entertainers at the time when major projects fell into the hands of Mohanlal and Mammootty. Dileep became one of those automatic choices whenever there was a need for an identifiable, comedy-driven role.
What happened in the 2017 assault case?
The case pertains to the night of February 17, 2017, when an actress working across Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted inside her vehicle by a group of men. The incident sparked widespread outrage and a public conversation on women's safety and representation in cinema.
Who were the accused?
The first accused and alleged mastermind of the assault was Sunil NS, popularly known as Pulsar Suni. Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijeesh VP, Salim H (alias Vadival Salim), Pradeep, Charly Thomas, Sanilkumar (alias Mesthiri Sanil), and G Sarath were also among the accused.
Charges against them included criminal conspiracy (120A, 120B), kidnapping (366), gang rape (376D), outraging modesty (354), wrongful confinement (342, 357), attempt to disrobe (354B), criminal intimidation (506(i)), destruction of evidence (201), and harbouring an offender (212). While Dileep was acquitted, 6 accused were found guilty of most charges, including rape and kidnapping.
A long and complicated trial
The trial, which started on March 8, 2018, became one of Kerala’s largest trials. A total of 261 witnesses were examined, including in-camera testimonies; 28 were turned hostile. The prosecution produced 833 documents and 142 material objects while the defence produced 221 documents. Witness examination alone spanned 438 days. Two special prosecutors resigned during the trial, and the survivor’s request to replace the presiding judge was denied.
