He confirmed that the decision was taken after discussions with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Published Dec 08, 2025 | 3:10 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 08, 2025 | 3:10 PM
Dileep was arrested on 10 July 2017 for conspiracy and spent 84 days in jail.
Synopsis: Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court Judge Honey M Varghese, on Monday, found six people guilty in the 2017 case related to the abduction and assault of a leading female Malayalam actor. Actor Dileep, who was the eighth accused in the case, has been acquitted.
The Kerala government will file an appeal against the acquittal of actor Dileep and other accused in the 2017 actor assault case, Law Minister P. Rajeev said on Monday, 8 December.
He confirmed that the decision was taken after discussions with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
“The Chief Minister has suggested that we file an appeal. I have also spoken with the DGP. The prosecution achieved partial success in this case, but we will appeal to ensure complete justice,” Rajeev said.
Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court Judge Honey M Varghese, on Monday, found six people guilty in the 2017 case related to the abduction and assault of a leading female Malayalam actor.
Actor Dileep, who was the eighth accused in the case, has been acquitted. The court found that the prosecution failed to prove the conspiracy charge framed against actor Dileep. The court added that the charge of tampering with evidence will also not stand against Dileep.
The accused who were found guily are Sunil Kumar NS alias Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijeesh VP, Salim H alias Vadival Salim, and Pradeep. Quantum of punishment for the convicts will be pronounced later. The court will consider the case again on 12 December.
The Law minister added that the government would stand firmly with the survivor and ensure that justice is carried forward without compromise.
The minister clarified that while the investigation team had been given full freedom throughout the probe and had conducted the investigation “in a good manner,” the government would still examine why the court delivered an adverse decision on certain charges.
“We can take further steps only after receiving the full copy of the verdict,” he said.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan echoed the government’s stand, asserting that the party would support the survivor even if the matter reaches the Supreme Court.
“The majority of the accused have been convicted. But a few have been acquitted. Everyone knows there was a conspiracy, but the court found that conspiracy could not be proved. The police conducted the investigation properly,” Govindan said.
He added that the party was “not satisfied with the verdict” and would back the prosecution as it moves to the next stage of the legal process.
“Kerala society wants the conspiracy to be exposed and the culprits punished. We will go to the extreme to ensure justice,” he said.
Meanwhile, KPCC president Sunny Joseph termed the verdict “not satisfactory,” alleging lapses on the part of the police and prosecution.
“The prosecution failed to handle the case with the seriousness it demanded. They failed to prove the conspiracy angle. Both the police and the prosecution have failed the survivor,” he said.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
