Dileep
Case
Verdict
Time:
The
long-awaited
verdict
in
the
actress
assault
case,
one
of
the
most
closely
watched
criminal
trials
in
Kerala
in
recent
years,
is
set
to
be
pronounced
today
(December
8)
by
the
Ernakulam
Principal
Sessions
Court.
The
judgment
will
decide
the
fate
of
ten
accused,
including
actor
Dileep,
who
is
listed
as
the
eighth
accused
in
the
case.
According
to
Asianet
News,
the
court
is
expected
to
announce
its
decision
after
11
a.m.,
bringing
to
a
close
a
trial
that
has
continued
for
nearly
six
years
under
in-camera
proceedings.
The
case
dates
back
to
2017,
when
the
survivor
was
abducted
and
sexually
assaulted
while
returning
from
a
film
shoot,
and
the
act
was
recorded
by
the
accused,
according
to
the
prosecution.
Among
the
accused,
six
persons,
including
Pulsar
Suni,
are
charged
with
directly
carrying
out
the
crime.
They
face
serious
charges
such
as
gang
rape,
kidnapping,
and
criminal
conspiracy.
While
Dileep
is
not
accused
of
being
physically
present
at
the
scene,
the
prosecution
has
alleged
that
he
played
a
key
role
as
the
mastermind
behind
the
crime
and
had
allegedly
arranged
the
assault
through
intermediaries.
He
has
also
been
charged
with
abetment
and
other
related
offences.
As
reported
by
Asianet
News,
significant
details
from
the
confidential
trial
have
come
into
public
focus
in
the
days
leading
up
to
the
verdict.
During
her
testimony,
the
survivor
stated
that
she
had
prior
professional
and
personal
differences
with
Dileep,
which
dated
back
to
2012.
She
told
the
court
that
the
hostility
stemmed
from
her
allegedly
revealing
his
personal
relationship
to
his
former
spouse.
The
actress
told
the
court
that
she
had
received
threats
suggesting
that
anyone
who
opposed
the
actor
would
face
obstacles
in
the
Malayalam
film
industry.
Another
key
development
that
drew
attention
ahead
of
the
verdict
concerns
the
statement
made
by
Pulsar
Suni
regarding
his
acquaintance
with
Dileep.
Throughout
the
investigation
and
trial,
Dileep
had
maintained
that
he
did
not
know
the
prime
accused
personally.
However,
during
the
course
of
the
trial,
Pulsar
Suni
reportedly
told
the
court
that
they
were
known
to
each
other.
Earlier
Goa
Plot
Highlights
Alleged
Conspiracy
The
prosecution
has
also
referred
to
an
earlier
alleged
attempt
to
carry
out
a
similar
offence
in
Goa
on
January
3,
2017.
According
to
the
prosecution
version
presented
in
court,
the
plan
could
not
be
executed
on
that
occasion
because
the
actress
completed
her
shoot
earlier
than
expected
and
returned.
That
instance
was
cited
as
part
of
the
broader
conspiracy
narrative
put
forth
by
investigators.
Today’s
verdict
is
expected
to
bring
clarity
on
multiple
legal
questions
that
have
been
debated
over
the
years,
including
the
extent
of
involvement
of
each
accused
and
the
validity
of
the
conspiracy
charge.
Security
arrangements
have
been
tightened
in
and
around
the
court
premises
in
view
of
the
high-profile
nature
of
the
case
and
the
public
attention
surrounding
it.