After nearly eight years of intense scrutiny and speculation, a Kerala court is set to deliver the long-awaited verdict in the 2017 actress assault case, a case that shook Malayalam cinema and evolved into one of the state&rsquo;s most complex legal battles. The verdict, expected on Monday, will determine whether actor Dileep played a role in orchestrating the attack on a fellow actress.
The incident took place on February 17, 2017, when the actress, who has worked across Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films, was abducted and sexually assaulted in her car for nearly two hours before the attackers fled in Kochi.
Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese will pronounce the judgment after trial proceedings that formally began in January 2020.
Ten accused faced trial, including Pulsar Suni (Sunil NS), Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh VP, Salim H, Pradeep, Charly Thomas, actor Dileep, Sanil Kumar (Mesthri Sanil), and Sharath. They were charged under various IPC sections, including conspiracy, abduction, assault, destruction of evidence, gang rape, and IT Act provisions. Dileep also faces an additional charge under IPC Section 204.
The police arrested the primary accused soon after the crime and filed the first chargesheet in April 2017. Dileep was arrested in July 2017 after investigators recovered a letter allegedly sent to him by Pulsar Suni from jail. He was granted bail three months later.
A supplementary chargesheet was filed in November 2017, naming additional individuals, though several were later discharged or turned approvers. The visuals of the assault recorded on a missing mobile phone were recovered through a memory card submitted by a lawyer, becoming key evidence in the case.
According to investigators, tensions between Dileep and the victim began after she informed his then-wife, Manju Warrier, about his alleged relationship with another actress. A confrontation during a 2016 stage rehearsal reportedly preceded the alleged conspiracy, which was planned at a Kochi hotel.
The trial saw repeated delays due to petitions before higher courts, Covid-19 disruptions, resignations of special prosecutors, and fresh revelations. In 2021, the prosecution paused the trial after claiming new evidence had emerged, including claims by filmmaker Balachandra Kumar that Dileep had possession of the assault visuals and had plotted harm against investigators.
Further complications arose when an inquiry revealed that the memory card containing the assault evidence had been accessed by a magistrate and court staff, prompting the Kerala High Court to issue guidelines in 2023 for handling sensitive digital evidence.
Over the course of the trial, 261 witnesses were examined, including several actors, many of whom turned hostile. The investigation officer alone was questioned for 109 days. The court admitted 834 documents and heard two defence witnesses. Two key witnesses, former MLA PT Thomas and director Balachandra Kumar, died during the trial.
Investigating officials maintain that they presented all possible evidence and remain hopeful for a clear and fair verdict.

Dileep awaits verdict as 2017 Kerala actress assault case nears conclusion

Kerala Court Set for Verdict in 2017 Assault Case

Dileep awaits verdict as 2017 Kerala actress assault case nears conclusion

December 7, 2025 | 19:41 IST