Actress
Assault
Case:
The
Ernakulam
Principal
Sessions
Court
is
set
to
deliver
the
long-awaited
verdict
in
the
high-profile
actress
assault
case
today,
December
8.
The
trial,
one
of
the
most
closely
watched
criminal
proceedings
in
Kerala
in
recent
years,
involves
ten
accused,
including
prominent
actor
P.Gopalakrishnan,
popularly
known
as
Dileep.
The
court’s
decision
will
bring
an
end
to
a
trial
that
has
been
ongoing
since
2018,
with
several
interruptions
over
the
years.
The
Hindu
reports
that
the
proceedings
were
held
in-camera
and
involved
over
260
witnesses
and
around
1,700
documents.
The
case
traces
back
to
February
17,
2017,
when
the
survivor,
a
Malayalam
film
actress,
was
allegedly
abducted
and
sexually
assaulted
while
traveling
in
a
vehicle.
According
to
the
prosecution,
the
crime
was
also
recorded
by
the
accused.
The
trial
primarily
revolves
around
the
charges
of
gang
rape,
conspiracy,
wrongful
confinement,
outraging
the
modesty
of
a
woman,
use
of
criminal
force,
and
the
taking
and
distribution
of
obscene
images
under
various
sections
of
the
Indian
Penal
Code
(IPC).
List
of
Accused
in
the
Case
Sunil
N.S.
alias
Pulsar
Suni:
The
first
accused,
a
driver
from
Vengoor,
Ernakulam,
was
arrested
on
February
23,
2017,
and
remained
in
custody
for
over
seven
years.
He
was
later
released
on
stringent
bail
conditions.
He
faces
multiple
charges,
including
gang
rape
and
conspiracy.
Martin
Antony:
The
second
accused,
a
driver
at
a
private
film
studio
in
Kochi,
is
booked
under
similar
charges
as
Pulsar
Suni.
Manikandan
B.:
The
third
accused,
an
autorickshaw
driver,
faced
identical
charges
and
reportedly
attempted
suicide
in
November
2025
after
being
briefly
taken
into
police
custody
for
alleged
public
nuisance.
Vijeesh
V.P.:
The
fourth
accused,
an
electrician,
is
also
booked
under
the
same
charges
related
to
the
assault.
Salim
H.
alias
Vadival
Salim:
The
fifth
accused,
a
bus
crew
member,
faces
charges
including
gang
rape
and
conspiracy.
Pradeep:
The
sixth
accused,
also
a
bus
crew
member,
is
charged
similarly.
Charly
Thomas:
A
bakery
employee
and
the
seventh
accused,
was
charged
with
harboring
the
main
perpetrators
after
the
crime.
P.Gopalakrishnan
alias
Dileep:
The
eighth
accused
and
a
prominent
actor,
has
been
charged
with
gang
rape,
conspiracy,
and
related
offences,
although
the
prosecution
contends
he
was
not
physically
present
at
the
scene.
Sanilkumar
alias
Mesthiri
Sanil:
The
ninth
accused,
previously
involved
in
a
separate
POCSO
case,
is
alleged
to
have
conspired
with
Pulsar
Suni
in
jail
to
extort
money.
He
remains
in
custody.
Sarath:
The
tenth
accused,
a
hotel
owner
and
close
acquaintance
of
Dileep,
is
also
named
in
the
case.
In
addition,
three
other
accused,
Vishnu,
Vipin
Lal,
and
police
constable
Aneesh,
reportedly
turned
approvers,
while
two
lawyers
previously
linked
to
the
case
were
acquitted.
The
court’s
judgment
today
is
expected
to
clarify
the
involvement
of
each
accused
and
conclude
one
of
the
most
prolonged
legal
battles
in
Kerala’s
recent
criminal
history.