The Kerala High Court has requested Malayalam actor Dileep to respond to an appeal by the state government challenging his acquittal in the 2017 actress assault case. The appeal aims for increased punishment for the convicted individuals. A division bench of Justices A. K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Jobin Sebastian allowed a 17-day delay in filing the appeal and summoned all the accused to submit their responses.
The appeal disputes the 2025 verdict of the Ernakulam Principal District and Sessions Court, which acquitted Dileep but convicted six others in relation to the abduction and sexual assault of a Malayalam actress in February 2017. According to the prosecution, the actress was kidnapped by a group of men in a moving vehicle while en route to a film shoot. She was reportedly sexually assaulted, and the crime was recorded by the perpetrators.
The state contends that the trial court overlooked evidence indicating a broader criminal conspiracy and is pushing for the conviction of Dileep and three others who were acquitted. The prosecution is also seeking tougher sentences for the six convicts, arguing that the punishment given was insufficient given the severity and societal repercussions of the crime.
The six convicts were found guilty of various offenses, including criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, assault with intent to outrage modesty, kidnapping, assault with intent to disrobe, and gang rape under the Indian Penal Code. They were sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, the minimum penalty for gang rape, along with concurrent sentences for related crimes. Additionally, the court ordered Rs 5 lakh from the fine to be paid to the survivor as compensation.
Several of the convicted individuals have approached the High Court to challenge their convictions and request the suspension of their sentences.
