Actor Dileep acquitted in 2017 actress assault case

In a significant development in the 2017 actress assault case, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court has acquitted actor Dileep. The court ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient for conviction, granting the actor a clean chit after a protracted legal battle spanning several years. Dileep, who was the eighth accused in the case involving a total of nine individuals, has consistently maintained his innocence.

The case originated in February 2017, when an actress was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted while travelling by car from Thrissur to Ernakulam. The first accused, Pulsar Suni, along with others, reportedly entered her vehicle, drove it towards Ernakulam, and allegedly subjected her to assault, recording the act on a mobile phone. Following the incident, police arrested the accused and filed the first charge sheet in April 2017.

Dileep's name emerged during further investigation, leading to his arrest in July 2017 after the probe team found that the prime accused had allegedly sent a letter to him from jail. He was later granted bail in October 2017, with a supplementary charge sheet filed against him and others in November of the same year, specifically alleging conspiracy.