Kerala: Actor Dileep acquitted in 2017 rape case, six convicted

A trial court in Kerala on Monday acquitted Malayalam film actor Dileep in a 2017 case pertaining to the abduction and rape of an actor, The Hindu reported.

Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese acquitted Dileep of all offences after a nearly eight-year trial.

However, the court found six other persons accused in the matter guilty of rape, conspiracy and abduction, among other offences, Live Law reported.

The court will pronounce the punishment on Friday.

On February 17, 2017, six men allegedly kidnapped and sexually abused the actor inside her car for two hours. They had allegedly also filmed the assault to blackmail the woman. Later, the woman was dropped near the home of a film director, who helped her contact the police and register a case.

Dileep was among the 10 persons accused in the case and was alleged to be the mastermind of the assault.

NS Sunil, alias Pulsur Suni, was named the prime accused. He had allegedly been hired by Dileep to commit the crime.

Investigators had found that the alleged abduction and sexual abuse was the result of a alleged conspiracy to intimidate and humiliate the woman, The Indian Express reported.

The others accused in the case were Martin Antony, B Manikandan, VP Vijeesh, H Salim, Pradeep, Charley Thomas, Sanilkumar and Sarath G Nair, The Hindu reported.

Most of the persons accused in the matter, including Pulsur Suni, were charged...

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