Actress Assault Case: Malayalam actor Dileep, who was on trial for over seven years in the 2017 actress assault case, alleged on Monday that certain police officials and a section of the media attempted to frame him with the intention of destroying his career and reputation.
Speaking to reporters shortly after a local court acquitted him, the actor said a “real conspiracy” was crafted to position him as an accused in one of Kerala’s most sensational criminal cases.
Actor Says Case Was Designed to ‘Destroy His Life’
Dileep, known for films like Meeshamadhavan, said the move to link him to the assault was deliberate.
“It was done to destroy my career, image, and life in society,”
he said moments after the verdict was pronounced.
The actor thanked his family, legal team, and fans for standing by him throughout the long legal battle.
Six Accused, Including Pulsar Suni, Found Guilty
The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court, led by Judge Honey M. Varghese, acquitted Dileep and three others in the case, while convicting six accused, including prime accused Sunil N.S., also known as Pulsar Suni.
The court completed hearings on November 25 before delivering the verdict in the high-profile case.
Case That Shocked Kerala
The February 17, 2017 assault on a popular multi-lingual actress—who was attacked inside her moving vehicle for nearly two hours—had sent shockwaves across Kerala.
According to the prosecution, a group of men forced their way into the actress’s car and later escaped into a crowded area before police tracked them down.
A charge sheet was first filed against seven individuals in April 2017. During supplemental investigation, Dileep was arrested on July 10, 2017 after the probe team claimed that Pulsar Suni had allegedly sent a letter to him from jail.
Dileep Criticizes Former Wife & Police Officials
In a strongly worded statement, Dileep accused his former wife, actress Manju Warrier, of triggering the narrative that a larger conspiracy existed behind the assault.
He further alleged involvement of a senior woman police officer and what he described as “a group of criminal police” who, according to him, constructed a fabricated story with the support of the prime accused and amplified it through certain media outlets and social media platforms.
“Today, that false narrative, fabricated by the police, was shattered in the court,”
the actor said.
Who Faced Trial?
Accused in the Case
- Sunil N.S. (Pulsar Suni) – Prime accused
- Martin Antony
- Manikandan B.
- Vijesh V.P.
- Salim H.
- Pradeep
- Charly Thomas
- Actor Dileep (P. Gopalakrishnan)
- Sanil Kumar (Mesthri Sanil)
- Sharath
Police arrested the first batch of accused soon after the incident, and more arrests followed as the investigation expanded.
Dileep’s Acquittal Adds New Chapter to a Historic Case
The acquittal of Dileep marks a major turning point in a case that shaped public debate around justice, victim rights, and celebrity influence in Kerala.
While the court has delivered its judgment, the ripple effects of the case—both socially and politically—are expected to continue.