Malayalam actress assault case, key accused acquitted after 8 years

The long-awaited final verdict has been delivered in the 2017 assault case that shook the Malayalam film industry. Malayalam star Dileep has received huge relief after nearly eight years of a protracted investigation, as the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court delivered a sensational judgment, declaring him not guilty.

The case stemmed from a horrifying incident involving Kerala film actress Bhavana, who was gang-raped five years ago. On February 17, 2017, while traveling from Thrissur to Kochi, Bhavana was kidnapped and assaulted in a car. The assailants rammed the car she was traveling in with a van at night, dragged the driver out, and forcibly entered the vehicle. Bhavana was then sexually assaulted for about three hours while the attackers drove around, taking videos and photos of the crime, before eventually abandoning her in an area of Kochi and fleeing. Bhavana, a prominent actress in Malayalam and Kannada films, has also appeared in Telugu films such as Ontari , Hero , Mahatma , and Nippu .

Dileep was named the eighth accused on charges of conspiring to commit the crime. The case took many twists and turns from the very beginning, with the actor entangled in court proceedings for years. The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court, however, found that the prosecution failed to prove the conspiracy charges against him, giving him a clean chit.

The real twist in the verdict lies in the conviction of the actual perpetrators. The court found six individuals guilty, including the prime accused Pulsar Suni, along with Martin Antony, Manikandan, Vijeesh, and Saleem, under serious sections such as kidnapping, gang rape, and criminal conspiracy. Their punishment is expected to be announced on December 12.

The trial was complex and exhaustive. The court examined 261 witnesses, including prominent figures from the film industry, with 28 witnesses turning hostile during proceedings. The prosecution submitted over 800 documents, and after 438 days of witness examination and legal arguments, the verdict has finally been delivered.

However, the legal troubles for Dileep are not over. Kerala Police recently registered another case against him for allegedly threatening to kill police officers who were investigating the original case. Audio clips related to these threats have also been released, adding a new chapter to the ongoing saga.

Dileep’s acquittal has led to celebrations among his fans, but debates continue over whether justice has truly been served for Bhavana. The situation is expected to become clearer once the sentences for the convicted individuals are announced on December 12.