Dileep Acquitted in 2017 Actress Sexual Assault Case - Here Is The Timeline

The Ernakulam District Court acquitted Dileep in the 2017 actress abduction case after a lengthy trial. Six co-accused were convicted on multiple charges, with sentencing anticipated. The case, which drew national attention, involved allegations of abduction, assault and the recording of footage, impacting Malayalam cinema discourse.

Malayalam actor Dileep has been acquitted in the 2017 sexual assault case of a popular actress. The Principal District and Sessions Court in Ernakulam passed the verdict on Monday, closing an eight-year legal battle. Judge Smt. Honey M. Varghese delivered the verdict in open court, ending one of Kerala's most discussed criminal trials.

While Dileep, listed as the eighth accused, was cleared of every allegation, the same court held six others guilty. The case, centred on the abduction and sexual assault of a leading actress near Kochi, drew national attention and fuelled intense debate within the Malayalam film industry.

Key verdict details in the 2017 actress abduction case

The first six accused, including prime accused Sunil N.S., known as Pulsar Suni, were convicted of several offences. These included criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, abduction, outraging modesty and gang rape, under IPC Sections 120B, 340, 354, 366, 354B and 376D, among others. Sentencing is scheduled for 12 December.

The February 17, 2017 assault took place inside a moving vehicle on the outskirts of Kochi. According to investigators, the attack was filmed on video and that footage became a key plank for the prosecution. The incident provoked public anger and altered power structures inside Malayalam cinema circles.

Investigation, accused and charges in the 2017 actress abduction case

Police initially named Pulsar Suni as the main accused and later alleged that Dileep plotted the crime. Over time, the investigation widened to 15 accused persons. Some were discharged, some turned approvers, and two — Sarath G. Nair and Sanilkumar — entered the array through supplementary chargesheets.

Several co-accused later supported the prosecution. Vishnu became an approver, while Vipin Lal BL and Aneesh PK were formally pardoned and testified for the State. Advocate Pratheesh Chacko and Raju Joseph were discharged earlier, after the court found insufficient grounds to proceed against them during the trial proces.

Court journey and delays in the 2017 actress abduction case

The trial became one of Kerala's lengthiest criminal proceedings, passing through many legal stages. Dileep spent about 80 days in custody before the High Court granted bail. Dileep challenged the investigation several times, alleging bias and asking that the Central Bureau of Investigation take over the probe.

In 2018, Dileep’s plea seeking a CBI investigation was rejected by the High Court. The court ruled that an accused person could not insist on changing the investigating agency. A later appeal was also dismissed, leaving the state police team to continue handling the sensitive investigation and trial support work.

Supreme Court role in the 2017 actress abduction case

The Supreme Court intervened on key procedural questions. In 2019, while turning down Dileep’s request for a copy of the memory card containing the assault visuals, the apex court directed that the trial be completed “preferably within six months.” Subsequent delays led to repeated extensions, finally up to 31 March 2024.

During this period, Pulsar Suni stayed in custody for more than seven years. The Supreme Court eventually granted bail in 2024, citing the prolonged duration of the trial. The court noted the extended incarceration while the case continued, even as arguments and witness examinations moved slowly in the Sessions Court.

Accused list and trial status in the 2017 actress abduction case

The Sessions Court recorded the following accused as facing trial in the case, along with their listed numbers. This structure reflected several changes over time, as some names were added later and others turned approvers or were discharged, reshaping the group that ultimately stood through the entire trial.

The survivor also approached courts many times during these years. In 2019, a request to have a woman judge preside over the trial was accepted. Later, the survivor sought transfer of the case, alleging bias by the then presiding judge, which added another contentious layer to the proceedings.

Here Is The Timeline of the Case

February 17, 2017: The 2017 sexual assault case involving Malayalam actor Dileep (P. Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan) began with the abduction and assault of a prominent actress on February 17, 2017, in Kochi, where she was attacked in a moving car and the incident was recorded.​

February 18-20, 2017: Police arrest driver Martin Antony, Vadival Salim, Pradeep, and Manikandan, three of the initial seven accused.​

February 22-23, 2017: A lawyer submits a phone and memory card with assault footage to court; Pulsar Suni (first accused) and Vijeesh surrender and are arrested.​

April 18, 2017: First chargesheet filed naming seven accused, excluding Dileep.​

June 26-28, 2017: Dileep publicly blames the survivor in an interview and undergoes 13-hour police questioning with Nadirshah.​

July 10, 2017: Dileep arrested as the eighth accused, linked to revenge over his ex-wife Manju Warrier's divorce; motive tied to survivor's role in exposing his affair.​

July 11, 2017: AMMA expels Dileep amid public backlash.​

October 3, 2017: High Court grants Dileep bail after 85 days in jail.​

Trial Developments

A second chargesheet in November 2017 named Dileep as the eighth accused with 12 total, including 50 witnesses and forensic evidence of assault visuals accessed multiple times.​

January 20, 2018: Courts reject Dileep's pleas for assault video access.​

2020-2021: Survivor alleges judicial bias; forensic reports note video access issues; director Balachandrakumar accuses Dileep of screening clips at home.​

2025: Trial concludes after 438 days of witness exams, 261 witnesses, and 833 documents; verdict acquits Dileep and accused 1-6 due to insufficient conspiracy proof.