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Kochi, December 8, 2025: After eight grueling years of twists, hostile witnesses, and fierce public scrutiny, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court delivered a split verdict in the sensational 2017 actress assault case.

Actor Dileep, the eighth accused, walked free, acquitted of all charges, including criminal conspiracy.

In stark contrast, the prime accused, N.S. Sunil alias Pulsar Suni and five others were convicted of abduction, gang rape, and related offenses, with sentencing set for December 12.

The ruling, pronounced by Judge Honey M. Varghese, underscores the challenges of proving shadowy conspiracies in high-stakes cases.

“The prosecution failed to establish a direct link between Dileep and the crime beyond a reasonable doubt,” the court observed, citing insufficient evidence under IPC Section 120B.

While the direct perpetrators face justice, Dileep’s acquittal has reignited debates on power dynamics in Malayalam cinema and the fragility of gender justice.

A Nightmare Revisited: The 2017 Assault

On February 17, 2017, the survivor, a prominent actress known for roles in films like Marykkundoru Kunjaadu, was allegedly abducted from Kochi’s Athani while heading to a shoot.

A gang led by Pulsar Suni reportedly held her captive in a moving car for over two hours, subjecting her to sexual assault and filming explicit videos for blackmail.

The visuals were later circulated as a tool of intimidation, shattering her career and personal life.

The case exploded when police linked it to Dileep, then at the peak of his stardom, with hits like King Liar.

Prosecutors alleged he masterminded the attack out of vengeance: the survivor had confided in his then-wife, Manju Warrier, about Dileep’s extramarital affair with co-star Kavya Madhavan (now his wife).

This revelation allegedly fueled his divorce from Warrier in 2015 and a burning grudge.

Dileep, arrested on July 10, 2017, spent 85 days in the Aluva sub-jail before being granted bail.

He denied all involvement, calling it a “fabricated story” by the police.

The Verdict Breakdown

Convicted (Accused 1-6): Pulsar Suni (driver, prime accused), Martin Antony (accomplice), B. Manikandan (assailant), V.P. Vijeesh (electrician), H. Salim alias Vadival Salim (bus crew), and Pradeep (bus crew). They face charges under IPC Sections 376D (gang rape), 366 (kidnapping), 342 (wrongful confinement), and IT Act violations for circulating obscene material. Bail was canceled; the maximum penalty could be life imprisonment.
Acquitted (Besides Dileep): Charly Thomas (7th, bakery worker), Sanilkumar alias Mesthri Sanil (9th), and Sarath G. Nair (10th, Dileep’s associate). Evidence of their roles in conspiracy or evidence tampering was deemed unproven.
Key Absentees: Three others turned approvers (Vishnu, Vipin Lal, and Constable Aneesh) and escaped charges.

The trial, held in-camera for survivor privacy, spanned 27 adjournments, hostile testimonies from stars like Siddique and Edavela Babu, and forensic battles over the assault video.

Judge Varghese, a 25-year veteran with a history of handling sensitive cases, navigated survivor petitions for her recusal amid bias claims, allegations she dismissed as baseless.

Industry Divide And Dileep’s Response

Outside the court, chaos erupted.

Fans showered Dileep with laddoos and cheers at his Aluva home, where his wife, Kavya Madhavan, embraced him tearfully.

“Truth has prevailed. This was a conspiracy from the start, sparked by Manju’s call for deeper probes,” he told reporters, blaming a “criminal-minded” police team and media.

Supporters like director Nadirshah posted jubilant messages: “Satyameva Jayate.”

However, the acquittal drew sharp backlash.

The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), formed post-assault to combat misogyny, called it a “carefully crafted screenplay,” undermining survivors.

Actress Shafna Nizam lamented the loss of faith in justice: “I feel broken, like the survivor.”

AMMA Vice President Lakshmi Priya hailed it as vindication, but feminist voices, like J. Devika, labeled it a “pyrrhic victory.”

Conspiracies are notoriously hard to prove without ironclad evidence.

Key	Role	Outcome
Bhavana (Survivor)	Abducted and assaulted; key witness	Silent post-verdict; refused comment, reportedly “shaken.”
Manju Warrier	Ex-wife; tipped off about affair	Not charged; Dileep blames her for “sparking” probe
Kavya Madhavan	Current wife; affair at case’s root	Welcomed Dileep home amid fan frenzy
Pulsar Suni	Led assault gang	Convicted; faces life term after 7+ years in custody

Broader Implications

This verdict is not closure, it is a flashpoint. Kerala Law Minister announced an appeal to the High Court, vowing to “examine why evidence was not considered.”

Former investigator B. Sandhya echoed: “Not the final word; conspiracies are tough to nail.”

For the survivor, it is a partial win: her assailants are convicted, but the alleged architect is free.

However, the case exposed Mollywood’s underbelly, star power silencing dissent, AMMA’s initial support for Dileep fracturing the guild (prompting the rise of WCC), and delayed reforms, such as the Kerala State Film Employees Federation’s anti-harassment code.

As actor Parvathy Thiruvothu tweeted, “We watch a cruel screenplay unfold.” The real lesson? Justice demands evidence, but trust in systems erodes when verdicts feel scripted by influence.

Dileep, 56, eyes a comeback; his last hit, Bheeshma Parvam (2022), has proven that audiences await him.

However, with appeals looming and the #MeToo movement echoing, Mollywood must prioritize survivor safeguards over stardom.

In Kerala’s spotlight, this split decision feels like Act One of a longer drama.