2017 Kerala Actress Assault Case: Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court To Give Verdict Today, Actor Dileep Accused

Kochi: The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court is set to pronounce the verdict on Monday in the high-profile actor abduction and rape case in which actor Dileep is accused of conspiring and hiring a gang to execute the crime. District and Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese will deliver the judgment against the 10 accused on trial, excluding those who have been discharged or who later turned approvers.

Dileep is the eighth accused in the 2017 Actress Assault Case, who is now alleged to have violated bail conditions by the Kerala Crime Branch. The case pertains to an actress who worked in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films and was allegedly abducted and molested inside her car by a group of men who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017.

Sunil NS, widely known as Pulsar Suni, alleged to have orchestrated the abduction and assault, is the first accused. The others facing trial alongside him and Dileep are Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijeesh VP, Salim H, also known as Vadival Salim, Pradeep, Charly Thomas, Sanilkumar, also known as Mesthiri Sanil, and G Sarath.

The charges invoked against the accused span a wide range of IPC sections, including criminal conspiracy (120A, 120B), abetment (109), wrongful confinement (342, 357), kidnapping (366), outraging modesty (354), attempt to disrobe (354B), gang rape (376D), criminal intimidation (506(i)), destruction of evidence (201), harbouring an offender (212), and common intention (34).

The trial, which began on March 8, 2018, has been lengthy and complex. A total of 261 witnesses were examined, many of whom were interviewed in camera, including several prominent film personalities; 28 witnesses turned hostile. Over the years, two special prosecutors stepped down, and the survivor's request to replace the presiding judge was denied. The prosecution submitted 833 documents and 142 material objects, while the defence produced 221 papers. Witness examination alone spanned 438 days. 

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