The Kerala High Court on Tuesday sought the response of actor Dileep and nine others on an appeal filed by the state government challenging the trial court's judgment in the 2017 actor assault case. The trial court had convicted the first six accused in the case — Sunil N S aka Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh V P, Salim H, and Pradeep — while acquitting Dileep, Charley Thomas, Sanil Kumar alias Mesthri Sanil, and Sarath.
The High Court admitted the appeal, in which the state challenged the acquittal of Dileep, the eighth accused, and the three others, while also seeking an enhancement of the punishment awarded to the six convicts.
The court had sentenced them to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting the female actor in a moving car in Kochi. Dileep's acquittal and the minimum sentence awarded to the other accused drew widespread criticism, forcing the government to file an appeal before the HC.
In its appeal, the state described Dileep as the “master conspirator” and argued that the evidence on record establishes “beyond any shadow of doubt” that he had given the quotation to sexually assault the survivor. According to the prosecution, Dileep conspired with Suni, the first accused, and instructed him to commit sexual assault on the actor and to capture her nude visuals, as he was harbouring enmity and vengeance against her.
Meanwhile, some of the convicts have also moved the High Court, challenging their conviction and seeking to suspend their sentence.
On the work front, Dileep recently wrapped up the shooting of his upcoming film with Jagan Shaji Kailas.