A Kerala court has acquitted Malayalam superstar Dileep in the 2017 abduction and rape case of a prominent actress, while six others were convicted. The actress, who has starred in over 80 films and won several awards, was assaulted by a group of men while traveling from Thrissur to Kochi in February 2017. The court, led by Judge Honey M Varghese, pronounced the verdict on Monday with heightened security measures in place.
Dileep, who denied the charges of criminal conspiracy, was arrested in 2017 and spent three months in custody before being released on bail. The police had charged him and 11 others with gang rape, abduction, and sexual assault. The actress, who waived her anonymity in 2022, spoke to the BBC about her ordeal, describing it as a "difficult journey from victim to survivor".
Her account sparked widespread support from Kerala stars like Mohanlal and Mammootty, and Bollywood actresses.The actress recounted being kidnapped while heading to dub for a film, with her attackers making videos of the assault, possibly for blackmail. She faced victim-shaming online, with hurtful questions about her travel time and morality.
The assault led the state government to form a panel, resulting in the Hema Committee report, which exposed systemic sexual harassment in Kerala's film industry, dominated by "a mafia of powerful men". The sentencing for the six convicted men is scheduled for December 12, and the actress has the option to appeal the verdict in the High Court.