Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has moved the Supreme Court challenging the acquittal of actor Dileep and three others in the 2017 actress kidnapping and sexual assault case by the lower court.
On December 8, Ernakulam Chief Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese acquitted actor Dileep of conspiracy charge in the case while finding six accused – Sunil NS, also known as “Pulsar” Soni; Martin Anthony; B Manikandan; Vice President Vijesh; H Salem. Pradeep – guilty of charges including gang rape, kidnapping, intent to insult a woman’s modesty and conspiracy.
The court also sentenced them to 20 years in prison.
Dilip’s acquittal in the case sparked a strong reaction from many within civil society and political circles. Law Minister P Rajeev had confirmed in December that the state would challenge his acquittal by the court.
Read also:20 years RI for six in Kerala actress gang rape case in 2017
Apart from Dileep, the state also moved the Supreme Court to reconsider the acquittal of three other accused – Charlie Thomas, Sanil Kumar and Sarath G Nair. In its appeal, the state sought enhancement of the sentence given to the six convicts, including Sunil NS.
The six convicts also moved the Supreme Court challenging their conviction by the Principal Sessions Court, Ernakulam.
On February 17, 2017, a leading Malayalam actress was kidnapped while on her way from Thrissur to Kochi, and sexually assaulted inside a moving car. The assault was also captured on video by the six-member gang headed by “Pulsar” Soni. The prosecution argued that the kidnapping and gang-rape of the actress was carried out on the instructions of Dileep, who was allegedly resentful of her for her involvement in his separation and eventual divorce from actress Manju Warrier. Dileep also allegedly suspected that the actress informed Warrier about his extramarital affair with his current wife Kavya Madhavan.
