Kerala Government Challenges Acquittal of Dileep in Actress Assault Case; Files Appeal in High Court

Kochi: The Kerala government has filed an appeal before the High Court challenging the trial court verdict that acquitted actor Dileep and another accused in the actress kidnapping and sexual assault case. The appeal also seeks enhancement of the sentences awarded to the convicts, including the first accused, Pulsar Suni.

The prosecution moved the High Court after obtaining government permission to challenge the Principal Sessions Court’s judgment. In its appeal, the prosecution contended that the acquittal of Dileep and others was legally unsustainable, sent a wrong message to society, and was contrary to established principles of criminal procedure and natural justice.

The appeal specifically questions the trial court’s decision to convict six accused while acquitting the eighth accused, Dileep. The prosecution has argued that crucial digital evidence was rejected on trivial grounds, which adversely affected the outcome of the case.

The Principal Sessions Court had sentenced the first accused N. S. Sunilkumar (Pulsar Suni), second accused Martin Antony, third accused B. Manikandan, fourth accused V. P. Vijeesh, fifth accused H. Salim (Vadiwal Salim), and sixth accused Pradeep to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court, however, acquitted Dileep and Sarath, observing that the prosecution had failed to establish the charge of criminal conspiracy beyond reasonable doubt.