High Court Slams Dileep's Plea Against Media Reporting in Actress Assault Case

Kochi: Actor Dileep has suffered a setback after the High Court made sharp observations against his petition seeking restrictions on media reporting of the actress assault case. Justice Jobin Sebastian asked how publishing the accused's name or reporting factual details of the trial could amount to an offence. The court clarified that legal restrictions exist to protect the identity of survivors in sexual offence cases, and that such restrictions do not extend to the accused.

The court asked Dileep to specify exactly how the media coverage had influenced him. Justice Sebastian observed that if the "gag order" issued by the trial court had been violated, the remedy lay with the trial court itself — through a contempt petition — and not by approaching the High Court. Dileep had moved the High Court seeking to curb what he called media trial and to impose strict restrictions on reporting until the legal trial concludes.

The court had earlier directed that the investigation into cases registered against media organisations in 2022 be completed within a stipulated time frame. The court noted that police had failed to comply with this direction, and warned that contempt proceedings would be initiated against officials if the investigation continued to be delayed.

The Public Prosecutor has been directed to submit a report on the current status of the investigation. The case will be taken up again after a month.

In December 2025, the trial court had acquitted Dileep in the conspiracy case linked to the matter.