Malayalam actor Dileep was acquitted of all charges relating to a 2017 assault case on Monday. Along with Dileep, three others were also pronounced not guilty, while six others were found guilty of assaulting a South Indian actress. Following the verdict, the Kerala government has expressed that it will appeal against it.
Kerala government to appeal against Dileep`s verdict in 2017 assault case
State Law Minister P Rajeev stated that the survivor didn`t get complete justice through the present verdict. As per PTI, he said, “Though those who were directly involved in the crime were found guilty by the court, it was not the verdict everyone expected. The state government has always stood strongly with the survivor, and that will be continued.”
Highlighting the strong stand taken by the prosecution, Dileep said it had even submitted a five-volume argument note to the court regarding the case. “The government has decided to go on appeal against the verdict. I have already spoken to the Chief Minister and the DGP regarding this matter. The prosecution has been directed to initiate further proceedings in this regard,” the law minister added.
Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Sunny Joseph also condemned the verdict, calling it “unsatisfactory,” while stating that the failure to prove the conspiracy was a lapse of both the police investigation and the prosecution.
About the case
For the unversed, the case dates back to February 17, 2017, when a prominent Malayalam actress was reportedly abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving vehicle while travelling to Kochi. The incident shocked Kerala and sparked an intense debate on women`s safety. It also pointed fingers at the abuse of power in the film industry.
Earlier in the day, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court acquitted Dileep and three others, holding that the prosecution had failed to establish the charge of criminal conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt. The first six accused were found guilty in the case. All 10 accused were present in the court as directed during the pronouncement of the judgment.
Dileep, escorted out of the courtroom by a large team of lawyers, waved and smiled at supporters. He launched a sharp attack on the investigation, alleging he had been framed, launching a sharp attack on the investigation.
“In the court, the cooked-up story of the police failed,” he said, adding, “The police took the prime accused and a few others into confidence and created a story to destroy my future.”
He alleged that the conspiracy was hatched by his former wife and was aided by a senior police official and a section of the media. He also expressed deep gratitude to his counsel, Raman Pillai, and the legal team.
(With inputs from IANS)