Avalkoppam Trust was constituted recently by a collective under the banner ‘Avalkoppam’, a slogan that emerged as a symbol of solidarity following the 2017 sexual assault of a Malayalam actor
The Avalkoppam Legal Support Trust, formed in the aftermath of the controversial verdict in the 2017 actor assault case, has issued a public appeal seeking financial support for the survivor’s legal battle in the High Court. In an open letter released on Wednesday, the trust described the sessions court verdict as an “unjust” one and called upon civil society to stand with the survivor in her continued fight for justice.
The trust was constituted recently by a collective of activists, writers, cultural figures and public personalities under the banner ‘Avalkoppam’ (meaning ‘with her’), a slogan that emerged as a symbol of solidarity following the 2017 sexual assault of a Malayalam actor in a moving vehicle in Kochi.
In the letter, the trust said the verdict delivered by the Ernakulam Sessions Court on December 8, 2025, had prompted the formation of the organisation. While the court convicted six men directly involved in the assault, actor Dileep and three others accused of masterminding the crime were acquitted citing lack of evidence. The survivor has since decided to challenge the verdict before the Kerala High Court, while the prosecution has also filed an appeal.
Calling the case “the rarest of the rare”, the trust said society has a responsibility to support survivors in pursuing justice, especially in cases involving long-drawn legal proceedings and immense financial burden. “It is the responsibility of civil society to provide the survivor a helping hand,” the letter noted, adding that the initiative emerged from a collective realisation that survivors should not be left to fight alone.
The letter also raises concerns regarding the alleged tampering of the memory card containing visuals of the sexual assault. According to the trust, the hash value of the memory card was found altered thrice, as reported earlier by the Forensic Science Laboratory. The trust alleged that the visuals may have been copied to other devices while in court custody, terming it a serious infringement of the survivor’s privacy and fundamental rights.
Although the High Court had earlier acknowledged the issue and ordered an inquiry, the trust claimed that the investigation did not progress meaningfully. It further stated that the survivor would soon move a writ petition before the High Court seeking a proper probe and penal action against those responsible for the alleged misuse of the visuals.
The trust also announced that senior Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover would represent the survivor in the High Court. Advocates Bhadrakumari and Sandhya will assist her as part of the legal team.
The appeal letter urged the public to contribute financially towards the survivor’s legal expenses, assuring transparency in the utilisation of funds. It said account statements would be published periodically and expenditures would be made only as per the survivor’s directions.
The trust reiterated that its larger aim is to support survivors of abuse against women and identify deserving cases through a committee-based evaluation process. The 2017 actor assault case, it added, is the first case selected by the trust for such support.
The letter has been signed by activist K Ajitha, writer Deedi Damodaran, dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi, Mercy Alexander, Joseph C Mathew, Prakash Bare, Sonia George and Baiju Merikkunnu, among others.