Actor Dileep Acquitted in Actress Assault Conspiracy Case

New Delhi, December 15, 2025: In a major development in the sensational 2017 actress assault case, the Ernakulam Sessions Court in Kerala has acquitted popular Malayalam actor Dileep of all charges, ruling that the prosecution “miserably failed” to prove the charge of criminal conspiracy against him.

The verdict, delivered after a long and intense trial spanning several years, marks a pivotal moment in the case that had gripped the state and the film industry. While Dileep, who was the eighth accused, was cleared, the court found the six men who directly carried out the assault guilty of charges including gang rape and criminal conspiracy. They have been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.

What The Court Said About The Conspiracy

The core of the prosecution’s case against Dileep was that he had a personal grudge against the survivor and hired the main accused, Sunil N.S. (also known as Pulsar Suni), to abduct, sexually assault, and film the actress as an act of revenge.

However, the 1700-page judgement detailed the court’s reasons for rejecting this conspiracy theory, pointing to several significant inconsistencies and a lack of credible evidence:

• Inconsistent Testimony: The court noted that several key witnesses only made specific allegations about the conspiracy and Dileep’s motive years after their initial statements to the police. This “material omission amounting to contradiction” weakened the claims of a prior plot.
• The ‘Gold Ring’ Claim: The prosecution alleged that Dileep instructed the main accused to specifically film a gold ring worn by the victim to ensure the visuals were genuine and her identity was unmistakable. The court observed that this allegation was not in the first chargesheet and was introduced later. Furthermore, witness accounts regarding the ring were found to be contradictory and unreliable, with one approver changing their statement during the trial.
• Motive Not Proven: The prosecution claimed the conspiracy began as far back as 2013 due to a personal rivalry between Dileep and the survivor. The court, while acknowledging the relationship between the two was “not cordial,” concluded that the prosecution failed to provide reliable evidence to establish this specific motive or the events that allegedly led to the planning of the crime.
• Lack of Link to Crime: The court found no clear and convincing evidence to establish the monetary transaction or the planning meetings between Dileep and the main accused, which were alleged by the prosecution. The initial claims by Pulsar Suni about a “madam” being the source of the ‘quotation’ were also not adequately investigated, according to court observations.

The Road Ahead

Following the verdict, the Kerala government, standing firmly with the survivor, announced that it will file an appeal against the Sessions Court’s decision to acquit Dileep and others. The legal battle is, therefore, expected to continue in the High Court.

Dileep, upon his acquittal, thanked his supporters and alleged that the case against him was a “fabricated story” created by a specific group of police personnel and media to ruin his life and career.

The verdict has reignited public debate and scrutiny over the integrity of the evidence and the investigative process in high-profile criminal cases, even as it affirms the guilt of the primary perpetrators who committed the assault. The courageous fight for justice by the actress, who is the survivor, continues to be an inspiring example of resilience in the face of a challenging legal and social environment.