KOCHI: On Monday, a sessions court in Kerala acquitted Malayalam film star Dileep in connection with the 2017 abduction and gang-rape of a fellow actor, determining that the prosecution did not sufficiently demonstrate that he conspired to orchestrate the crime. The six-member gang responsible for the assault, led by Sunil NS, also known as Pulsar Suni, was found guilty of gang rape and other serious offenses. Sentencing for those convicted is set for December 12. Dileep, who was charged by police as the alleged mastermind, was exonerated of conspiracy, gang rape, destruction of evidence, and violations of the IT Act. GSarath, a friend who was implicated later in the investigation, was also acquitted of charges related to evidence tampering. Additionally, two other individuals accused of assisting in the crime were cleared of all charges. Judge Honey M Varghese announced the verdict in front of a crowded courtroom. “Given the severity of the offenses committed against a woman, the convicted individuals are not eligible for probation,” the court stated while ordering their remand in custody. The convicted individuals include Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijeesh VP, Salim H, and Pradeep. They were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, sexual assault, disrobing, attempted confinement, gang rape under the Indian Penal Code, and violations of the Information Technology Act for recording and disseminating sexually explicit material. Prosecutors indicated that the survivor, a well-known film actor, was traveling from Thrissur to Kochi on the night of February 17, 2017, when the gang allegedly tracked her vehicle using location updates provided by Martin Antony. Near Athani, the gang staged a false road accident, forcibly entered her car, abducted her, and drove her to a secluded area in Kochi. According to police reports, Suni threatened the survivor, sexually assaulted her, and secretly recorded the incident on a mobile phone. Dileep was arrested five months later, in July 2017, after investigators claimed he had hired the gang due to a personal vendetta stemming from his estranged relationship with his ex-wife, Manju Warrier. The court concluded that the alleged conspiracy was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Verdict in the Kerala rape-abduction case: Actor Dileep has been acquitted of all charges
