'Conspiracy Against Me': Malayalam Actor Dileep Acquitted By Kerala Court In 2017 Actress Sexual Assault Case

Malayalam actor Dileep was acquitted by a Kerala court on Monday in the 2017 South Indian actress abduction and assault case. The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court delivered the verdict and found six others guilty for abducting, assaulting and subjecting the survivor to gang rape in Kochi.

"This was a conspiracy against me," Dileep told reporters after the verdict. "I am finally relieved after the verdict," he added.

The ten accused who faced trial are Sunil NS alias Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh V P, Salim H, Pradeep, Charly Thomas, actor Dileep (real name P Gopalakrishnan), Sanil Kumar alias Mesthri Sanil, and Sharath.

Three other persons, apart from Dileep, have been acquitted in the case. The court found prime accused Sunil N S alias Pulsar Suni as guilty.

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What Is 2017 Actress Abduction, Assault Case

The assault on the actress, who has worked in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, after her car was abducted for two hours, had shaken the conscience of Kerala society.

According to the prosecution, several persons forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017 and later escaped in a busy area.

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Police arrested the accused soon after the incident and filed the first charge sheet against seven persons in April 2017.

During further investigation, Dileep was arrested on July 10, 2017 after the probe team found that the prime accused, Suni, had allegedly sent a letter to him from jail.

Dileep was granted bail on October 3, 2017.

(With PTI Inputs)